to keep
- verb
- /kip/
- 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.
- And the main tool it has to keep you alive is stasis.
- Bill Clinton biting her lower lip to keep her from struggling.
- It was a trick to keep me from my destiny.
- So a lot of fancy neighborhoods can keep pedophiles out.
- But my man now knows how to keep me in check as well.
- And he had an electric fence that kept their, their, their horses in.
- They will send in like police to keep everyone in their house.
- I'm sorry, the gravity of the sun keeps the Earth anchored.
- And then they just start doing it to keep from getting sick.
- In the same way you, you keep your AI really locked up.
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 keep someone or something safe from harm
Stop something from happening or someone from doing it
To stop yourself from showing a feeling or reaction
Keep an activity, quality, or schedule going over time
To keep people and things safe from harm or change
To become stiff and unable to move a part of the body
To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse
Stop someone or something from moving forward
Stop someone or something from coming near
To make someone stay indoors because of bad weather, illness, or punishment
To take care to avoid a problem or danger
Keep strong feelings under control so you do not act on them
To hold something inside so it does not escape
To take care of something so it stays in good condition
To hold back a feeling or reaction so it does not show
To protect someone or something from harm
To stop people or objects from touching and mixing
To stop people or groups from becoming stronger
Stop something harmful from coming close and causing trouble
To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger
To protect people or things from danger
Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter
To stay and watch to protect people or a place
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
Try to have the same things and life as neighbors to appear successful
- Informal
To not tell people outside the family about important things
- Informal
To work hard for a long time on a difficult task without stopping
- Informal
To stay very alert and watch what is happening around you
To not tell people your plans or feelings to get an advantage
Stay alert and ready to move, like resting a hockey stick on the ice
To keep going without giving up after facing many hard times
- Informal
To stay within safe limits and avoid getting into trouble
- Informal
To pay close attention to what people say and do to know what is happening
- Informal
To work hard and continue when things are difficult
Phrasal Verbs
- Informal
To watch someone or something carefully to make sure nothing bad happens
Not to touch or interfere with something that belongs to someone else
To avoid getting too close to someone or something, often emotionally
Compounds
- Specialized
An electrical switch that stays in its last on or off position without power
How Protective
Surface Forms
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.