1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony
keep the Sabbath by not working
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2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power
the money is yours to keep keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone
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3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of
make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter
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4
5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of
agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs
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6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away
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7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to keep your composure no matter what happens
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8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
may God bless and keep you
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as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition
the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of keep
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
Plus, the breathable upper helps keep feet from overheating, even on warm and active days.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Sarah Philip, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2025
One of the ways the 80-year-old keeps fit is by pushing bricks at the bottom of the swimming pool.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep
Verb
Brown, now 53, kept a journal as a 21-year-old serving four years in prison on federal fraud charges.
—Noun
Throughout the day, which nostril is dominant keeps swapping.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
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The couple shared a sweet moment together as the actor celebrated his big win at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.—
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Some bring the joy of surfing to kids dealing with trauma and celebrate older surfers in an annual contest.—
Verb
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Save Victoria Park retains hope that the decision can be reversed, saying that applications for the park’s permanent legal protection are still being evaluated.—
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Crockett then argued that the criticism reflects Republican discomfort with her appeal to voters Democrats have struggled to retain, particularly those without college degrees.—
Verb
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The paywall implementation follows intense backlash after the chatbot fulfilled requests to digitally remove clothing from photographs without subjects’ consent.—
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Building on these engagements, Palm sees his leadership at Catalina Global as the most fulfilling stage of his career.—
Verb
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Rather than storing all of your cleaning supplies in one central cabinet, use a caddy to keep some cleaning supplies and tools in each bathroom.—
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Instead of storing the marbles from your childhood in a bin in your closet, put them in a jar on your bookshelf.—
Verb
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Together, these changes help maintain Full Well Capacity despite the tiny pixel size.—
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Sleek, minimal designs add polish while maintaining an effortless feel.—
Verb
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In the past, American capitalism, despite its many faults, had managed to develop a safety net that compensated a little for its exploitations.—
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Ownership also involves financial responsibility, with car insurance playing a role in how people manage and protect their assets.—
Verb
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The state Department of Education controls public education, under the leadership of the governor and the Legislature.—
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The farmers also pitched in with efforts of their own, including adjusting fertilizer methods, controlling soil erosion and increasing on-site water retention.—
Verb
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Leaving stems and leaves intact through winter provides extra insulation to plant roots and crowns and protects plants from cold damage.—
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Remember, the park was originally protected because of its biodiversity, which is its biggest draw.—
Cite this Entry
“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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