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to keep

to keep

1.0
To protect someone or something from harm
  • verb
  • /kip/
translation icon : mantener
  • So how do you like, keep your hands safe?
  • keep people safe
  • keep something secret
  • keep an eye on

And the main tool it has to keep you alive is stasis.

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Examples

  • School librarians are the front lines of defense for keeping materials in our libraries.

    Academic text (2015)
  • They put all kinds of chemicals in it to keep people from gettin' sick.

  • We'll all take turns keeping watch all night.

  • Because I was trying to keep you from doing what you did.

  • David, how are you gonna keep them out?

  • That would keep us down for at least two weeks.

  • I thought I told you to keep your hands off my things!

  • At a minimum, the security forces must keep Afghans safe enough to live basically normal lives.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The tension of the story has to be strong enough to keep the reader turning pages.

    Academic text (2013)
  • She had to keep the children safe from the storm outside.

Synonyms

to protect
vsto keep
1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

also includes preventing change and stopping unwanted actions
to prevent
vsto keep
2.3

Stop something from happening or someone from doing it

focuses not only on stopping events but also on protecting and restraining
to hold
vsto keep
1.9

To stop yourself from showing a feeling or reaction

is broader, also includes protecting and preventing changes beyond control
to maintain
vsto keep
931 3.1

Keep an activity, quality, or schedule going over time

emphasizes protecting or stopping harm rather than only preserving a state
to preserve
vsto keep
496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

is broader, including restraining actions as well as preventing harm
to lock
vsto keep
398 2.5

To become stiff and unable to move a part of the body

is more general applying to prevention or protection not only rigid fixation
to contain
vsto keep
388 3.5

To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse

is broader, covering protection and general restraint not only stopping spread
to hold back
vsto keep
187 3.2

Stop someone or something from moving forward

is broader, also covers protecting or restraining beyond blocking progress
to keep away
vsto keep
187 1.6

Stop someone or something from coming near

is more general applying to protection and preventing many types of harm not only proximity
to keep in
vsto keep
105 3.0

To make someone stay indoors because of bad weather, illness, or punishment

is broader, covering protection and preventing changes beyond confining people indoors
to guard
vsto keep
84 1.3

To take care to avoid a problem or danger

is broader, also covers restraining or stopping actions and changes
to restrain
vsto keep
72 4.6

Keep strong feelings under control so you do not act on them

is broader, also includes making safe and stopping change as well
to retain
vsto keep
60 3.0

To hold something inside so it does not escape

is broader, also covers preventing harm and stopping unwanted actions
to keep up
vsto keep
53 3.0

To take care of something so it stays in good condition

also includes preventing actions or changes not only condition care
to stifle
vsto keep
49 5.3

To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show

focuses on external prevention and protection rather than internal suppression
to safeguard
vsto keep
45 3.7

To protect someone or something from harm

is the general act of preventing harm change or unwanted action
to keep apart
vsto keep
41 3.2

To stop people or objects from touching and mixing

is broader, including protection and preventing action beyond merely separating items
to keep down
vsto keep
39 3.6

To stop people or groups from becoming stronger

is more general covering protecting and restraining beyond just limiting growth
to keep at bay
vsto keep
38 3.9

Stop something harmful from coming close and causing trouble

is broader, also covering protection and restraining rather than only creating distance
to hold down
vsto keep
22 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

is broader, including protection and stopping actions not only limiting growth
to keep safe
vsto keep
9 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

is broader, also focuses on preventing change and restraining action
to keep back
vsto keep
4 5.1

Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter

is broader, applying to protection and prevention beyond emotional concealment
to keep guard
vsto keep
2 3.1

To stay and watch to protect people or a place

is broader, including preventing change and restraining beyond watching duty

Antonyms

1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

Idioms

116 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

Watch carefully for danger or a chance

Avoid getting noticed to stay out of trouble

Prevent people from arguing or fighting so things stay calm

Act quietly so people do not notice you

30 3.4

Stay calm and control your feelings when things are hard

Make something easy to understand by not adding extra details

To hope something will turn out well

16 4.6

Watch carefully for something important or dangerous

To avoid choosing now so other choices remain

Pay attention to the main goal and avoid distractions

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

11 6.8

To avoid trouble and not attract bad attention

8 4.7

To avoid serious money problems during hard times

8 6.7

Act as if everything is fine in front of other people

Look at a person or thing very carefully for a while to notice problems

8 6.5

To stay cheerful and hopeful when things go wrong

7 8.5

To stay calm and patient instead of getting angry

Try to have the same things and life as neighbors to appear successful

4 7.1

To not tell people outside the family about important things

4 3.7

Stay alert to hear useful news or information

To stay focused and calm in a difficult situation

Stay modern by learning about new trends

Stay calm and not get angry or excited in a difficult situation

2 7.4

Make someone feel nervous and unsure about what will happen

To work hard for a long time on a difficult task without stopping

1 6.0

Watch carefully for something you expect to see

Have just enough money to avoid hunger or poverty

Make the home warm and caring while someone is away

To stay very alert and watch what is happening around you

To not tell people your plans or feelings to get an advantage

To stay calm and able to think clearly under stress

Continue doing your part for the team when things are hard

Stay calm and not get angry in a difficult situation

1 7.2

To make people stay interested and active in a project

Stay alert and ready to move, like resting a hockey stick on the ice

Stay calm and do not become angry or upset

1 8.6

Stay calm and be patient

To keep going without giving up after facing many hard times

To tell someone to stick to what they know

3.4

Do enough work, paid or not, to pay for food and a place to live

To do work yourself when you hired someone else to do it

Run a team or group strictly and efficiently

To stay within safe limits and avoid getting into trouble

Make someone stay alert and ready for surprises

Not say anything or tell other people

To keep meat or other food moist while cooking so it stays soft

To be completely honest and direct with someone

To pay close attention to what people say and do to know what is happening

Watch carefully for danger or a chance to act

To work hard and continue when things are difficult

Stay calm and think clearly in a difficult or dangerous situation

Phrasal Verbs

507 2.8

To continue at the same speed or level as others

408 2.4

To watch someone or something carefully to make sure nothing bad happens

357 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

306 1.4

Continue doing something without stopping

240 3.0

To remember something when making decisions or thinking about it

187 1.6

Stop someone or something from coming near

174 2.7

To watch and write down progress or details

172 1.3

To stop people or things from entering a place

172 3.5

To learn about the latest news or trends

161 4.4

Move forward without stopping or slowing down

134 3.2

Watch carefully for someone or something

127 2.4

To stay away from a place, person, or thing

105 3.0

To make someone stay indoors because of bad weather, illness, or punishment

90 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

87 3.0

Continue doing something well with the same effort

To not tell anyone private information

Continue to talk or write to someone after you move away

Stay with someone so they are not alone

Tell someone often about new events or changes

54 3.1

Leave an option available for later use

53 3.0

To take care of something so it stays in good condition

to keep tabs on
  • Informal
43 3.9

To watch someone or something closely over time to see what happens

Not to touch or interfere with something that belongs to someone else

Stay with someone so they are not alone

41 3.2

To stop people or objects from touching and mixing

39 3.6

To stop people or groups from becoming stronger

Stop something harmful from coming close and causing trouble

Control people so they behave properly

34 8.3

Stay honest and true to yourself

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

31 1.0

To stay outside a place and not go in

30 3.1

To stay alert and watch for danger or trouble

29 3.5

Move at the same speed as someone or something

27 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

To not tell others your thoughts or feelings

24 2.2

Continue to have someone working for you

24 3.0

To stop someone from sleeping by making them stay awake

23 1.0

To stop yourself from getting cold

To delay a final decision so you can choose later

to keep a lid on
  • Informal
16 5.0

To control something so it does not grow or become known

To make sure someone regularly gets the latest information

Spend time with someone so they are not alone

Think about how important something is compared to other things

11 2.5

To have enough money or supplies to continue for a time

To avoid getting too close to someone or something, often emotionally

10 5.9

To stop yourself from throwing up food or drink

9 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

To stay informed about recent changes or news in a subject

To manage a home and do cleaning and cooking

Do what you say you will do for someone

4 5.1

Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter

To stay up to date with new information

To make things tidy and put them in their places

Make people continue talking so the talk does not stop

3 4.5

Not tell or give something to other people

3 3.5

To make a team stay united and work well under pressure

to keep mum
  • Informal
3 7.5

Stay quiet about something private

2 2.8

Save part of something to use later

To stay and watch to protect people or a place

To delay something and keep it for later use

Manage to avoid money problems and pay bills

Continue doing something to get better or keep your skills

Avoid looking at someone or something on purpose

Show the correct time all the time

1 4.6

Make someone want to keep watching or reading

Stay away from the streets to avoid danger

1 9.9

To stay silent on purpose to avoid trouble

1 8.1

Make someone like you by giving them small gifts or help

1 3.2

Move at the same pace as other people when walking or marching

3.2

Leave a web page open to check it often

To manage to survive when you have money problems

To leave ideas unused for a while so they can grow and be used later

To continue to think about something as an important goal

Compounds

keep relay
  • Specialized
8.2

An electrical switch that stays in its last on or off position without power

How Protective

to prevent
2.3
to keep
1.0
to protect
1.0
safeguard
61 4.0

Surface Forms

keep infinitive
keeping present participle
keeps third person singular
kept past
kept past participle

Etymology

Keep comes from an old English word cepan meaning 'to hold' or 'protect'. So to keep someone from harm is to hold them away from danger and keep them safe.