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🔁 To continue 🛡️ To protect 📦 To store 🤝 To fulfill 🐶 To care for 🥫 To stay fresh 💰 Support or cost 🏰 Main tower 🚪 A jail cell
to keep

to keep

356 1.0
To do what you promised
  • verb
  • /kip/
: cumplir
  • The solicitor didn't keep in touch with him.
  • keep a promise
  • keep one's word
  • keep a commitment

And you continually don't keep the promise to yourself.

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Examples

  • Another provider said that CBHNs were valuable and helped to keep people from falling into the cracks.

    Academic text (2011)

  • You made a promise, you didn't keep your promise.

    Ezra (2024)

  • So they in fact did keep their word and I kept mine.

  • Do you believe in keeping your promises?

    Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

  • And I'll keep my promise because you dared to try.

    Francis of Assisi (1961)

  • Robert's parents seemed to keep an appropriate balance in terms of parental expectation.

    Academic text (2015)

  • Sun-Tzu's ancient wisdom is relevant today: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

    Academic text (2008)

  • He always tries to keep the promises he makes to his friends.

  • In order to build trust, it's important to keep your commitments in the workplace.

  • She decided to keep the traditions her family had celebrated for generations.

Synonyms

to follow
vsto keep
∞ 1.0

To act according to rules, advice, or beliefs

is broader, also including fulfilling commitments and preserving records
to celebrate
vsto keep
∞ 1.4

To join fun events to mark a special day or achievement

is about fulfilling duties or maintaining customs rather than marking events
to save
vsto keep
∞ 1.0

Keep something for use later

is about meeting obligations and observing customs, not just storing things
to maintain
vsto keep
∞ 3.1

Keep an activity, quality, or schedule going over time

is broader, also referring to fulfilling obligations and observing customs
to stick to
vsto keep
465 3.0

Keep doing something without changing it, for example following a plan

is broader, also meaning to fulfill duties and preserve customs
to hold to
vsto keep
365 3.5

To stay loyal to a promise, plan or belief

is more general, covering both fulfilling promises and formal observances
to retain
vsto keep
291 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

is more about meeting obligations and observing customs rather than possession
to uphold
vsto keep
224 4.4

To support and keep a law, decision, or belief in effect

is broader, also meaning to fulfill agreements and observe records
to keep track
vsto keep
208 2.7

To watch and write down progress or details

is wider, applying also to fulfilling commitments and preserving customs
to adhere
vsto keep
98 4.7

Continue to follow and support a rule, belief, or person

is more about meeting obligations and observing customs or records
to adhere to
vsto keep
95 3.9

To follow rules or instructions

is more general covering both obligations and maintaining traditions or records
to observe
vsto keep
79 3.4

To follow a rule or tradition by doing what it asks

is broader, also including fulfilling obligations and preserving records
to make good on
vsto keep
41 4.1

Keep a promise or pay what you owe

is more general including observing customs, laws, and records
to keep up
vsto keep
35 3.0

To take care of something so it stays in good condition

is broader, also involving fulfilling duties and observing customs
to stick to the plan
vsto keep
25 3.0

Continue doing what everyone agreed without changing it

is broader, also applying to fulfilling duties and preserving traditions or records
to keep a promise
vsto keep
6 2.5

Do what you say you will do for someone

is broader, applying to duties, customs, laws, and records as well

Antonyms

to break
∞ 1.0

To stop an activity or end a habit

to violate
630 4.4

Break a law, rule, agreement, or promise

Idioms

to keep the peace
42 3.7

Prevent people from arguing or fighting so things stay calm

to keep a low profile
41 3.9

Act quietly so people do not notice you

to keep it simple
35 2.7

Make something easy to understand by not adding extra details

to keep up appearances
  • Informal
11 6.7

Act as if everything is fine in front of other people

to keep a close watch
10 3.0

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

to keep head above water
  • Informal
9 4.7

To avoid serious money problems during hard times

to keep your pants on
  • Informal
7 8.6

Stay calm and be patient

to keep up with the Joneses
  • Informal
5 7.5

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

to keep up with the times
4 3.9

Stay modern by learning about new trends

to keep someone's head in the game
  • Informal
4 7.4

To stay focused and calm in a difficult situation

to keep it in the family
  • Informal
4 7.1

To not tell people outside the family about important things

to keep someone on edge
  • Informal
4 7.4

Make someone feel nervous and unsure about what will happen

to keep a cool head
3 3.9

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

to keep the home fires burning
  • Archaic
2 6.4

Make the home warm and caring while someone is away

to keep one's eyes open
2 3.8

Watch carefully for danger or a chance

to keep your head on a swivel
  • Informal
1 8.1

To stay very alert and watch what is happening around you

to keep an eye peeled
  • Informal
1 6.0

Watch carefully for something you expect to see

to keep the wolf from the door
  • Informal
1 8.1

Have just enough money to avoid hunger or poverty

to keep the pot boiling
  • Informal
1 7.2

To make people stay interested and active in a project

to keep your knickers on
  • UK
1 9.6

Stay calm and do not become angry or upset

to keep one's mouth shut
  • Informal
1 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

to keep it juicy
1 7.9

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

to keep the conversation lively
1 3.7

Make the conversation interesting and fun so people want to talk more

to keep your stick on the ice
  • Jargon
1 9.9

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

to keep your tits on
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Stay calm and do not get angry or impatient

to keep someone's pecker up
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Stay cheerful and hopeful during hard times

to keep one's ears open
  • Informal
1 3.7

Stay alert to hear useful news or information

to keep a tight ship
1 6.5

Run a team or group strictly and efficiently

to keep one's temper
1 4.4

Stay calm and not get angry in a difficult situation

to keep one's eyes peeled
  • Informal
1 4.6

Watch carefully for something important or dangerous

to keep one's head
1 4.6

Stay calm and think clearly in a difficult or dangerous situation

to keep one's fingers crossed
  • Informal
1 3.5

To hope something will turn out well

to keep a dog and bark yourself
  • UK
1 9.9

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

to keep one's chin up
  • Informal
1 6.5

To stay cheerful and hopeful when things go wrong

to keep one's eye on the ball
  • Informal
1 5.6

Pay attention to the main goal and avoid distractions

to take a licking and keep on ticking
  • Archaic
1 9.2

To keep going without giving up after facing many hard times

to keep one's cool
  • Informal
1 3.4

Stay calm and control your feelings when things are hard

to keep one's sanity
1 7.0

To stay calm and able to think clearly under stress

cobbler, keep to your last
  • Archaic
9.9

To tell someone to stick to what they know

to earn one's keep
  • Informal
3.4

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

to keep it between the ditches
  • Informal
9.9

To stay within safe limits and avoid getting into trouble

to keep on (one's) toes
  • Informal
5.8

Make someone stay alert and ready for surprises

to keep one's cakehole shut
  • Offensive
9.9

Not say anything or tell other people

to keep it one hundred
  • Slang
9.7

To be completely honest and direct with someone

to keep one's cards close to one's chest
  • Informal
7.6

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

to keep one's head down
6.3

Avoid getting noticed to stay out of trouble

to keep one's nose clean
  • Informal
6.8

To avoid trouble and not attract bad attention

to keep one's nose to the grindstone
  • Informal
7.7

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

to keep one's options open
4.2

To avoid choosing now so other choices remain

to keep one's pants on
  • Informal
8.5

To stay calm and patient instead of getting angry

to keep one's distance (from)
4.2

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

to keep one's ear to the ground
  • Informal
6.5

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

Phrasal Verbs

to keep up
908 2.8

To continue at the same speed or level as others

to keep going
892 1.6

To continue doing something without stopping

to keep on
604 1.4

Continue doing something without stopping

to keep out
548 1.3

To stop people or things from entering a place

to keep an eye on
  • Informal
432 2.4

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

to keep on
426 2.2

Continue to have someone working for you

to keep safe
375 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

to keep in mind
365 3.0

To remember something when making decisions or thinking about it

to keep away
335 1.6

Stop someone or something from coming near

to keep down
300 3.6

To stop people or groups from becoming stronger

to keep off
278 2.4

To stay away from a place, person, or thing

to keep quiet
208 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

to keep track
208 2.7

To watch and write down progress or details

to keep a secret
206 2.6

To not tell anyone private information

to keep in
168 3.0

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

to keep warm
142 1.0

To stop yourself from getting cold

to keep open
106 3.1

Leave an option available for later use

to keep (someone) company
94 2.2

Stay with someone so they are not alone

to keep it up
94 3.0

Continue doing something well with the same effort

to keep in touch
86 2.1

Continue to talk or write to someone after you move away

to keep watch
83 3.1

To stay alert and watch for danger or trouble

to keep an eye out
  • Informal
73 3.2

Watch carefully for someone or something

to keep going
69 2.5

To have enough money or supplies to continue for a time

to keep up
67 3.0

To stop someone from sleeping by making them stay awake

to keep up with
58 3.5

To learn about the latest news or trends

to keep posted
56 3.5

Tell someone often about new events or changes

to keep tabs on
  • Informal
52 3.9

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

to keep apart
50 3.2

To stop people or objects from touching and mixing

to keep (someone's) voice down
  • Informal
44 3.4

Speak quietly so you do not disturb others

to keep pace
43 3.5

Move at the same speed as someone or something

to keep at bay
43 3.9

Stop something harmful from coming close and causing trouble

to keep in line
42 4.2

Control people so they behave properly

to keep up
35 3.0

To take care of something so it stays in good condition

to keep afloat
32 4.1

Manage to avoid money problems and pay bills

to keep it together
  • Informal
32 5.4

To stay calm and control your feelings in a difficult situation

to keep it real
  • Slang
31 8.3

Stay honest and true to yourself

to keep guard
22 3.1

To stay and watch to protect people or a place

to keep it moving
  • Informal
22 4.4

Move forward without stopping or slowing down

to keep in the loop
21 3.5

To make sure someone regularly gets the latest information

to keep a lid on
  • Informal
21 5.0

To control something so it does not grow or become known

to keep options open
19 3.9

To delay a final decision so you can choose later

to keep out
19 1.0

To stay outside a place and not go in

to keep off the streets
19 3.9

Stay away from the streets to avoid danger

to keep up at night
18 6.2

Make someone unable to sleep because of worry, pain or anxiety

to keep it together
  • Informal
17 3.5

To make a team stay united and work well under pressure

to keep entertained
16 3.2

Make someone feel interested or amused for a while

to keep in perspective
15 4.3

Think about how important something is compared to other things

to keep house
12 3.0

To manage a home and do cleaning and cooking

to keep back
12 5.1

Stop yourself from showing an emotion like tears or laughter

to keep down
11 5.9

To stop yourself from throwing up food or drink

to keep in sight
11 3.1

To continue to think about something as an important goal

to keep company
10 3.3

Spend time with someone so they are not alone

to keep above water
9 4.9

To manage to survive when you have money problems

to keep abreast
9 5.6

To stay up to date with new information

to keep organized
  • US
9 2.1

To make things tidy and put them in their places

to keep at arm's length
9 6.3

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

to keep abreast of
8 5.3

To stay informed about recent changes or news in a subject

to keep back
7 2.8

Save part of something to use later

to keep back
7 4.5

Not tell or give something to other people

to keep a promise
6 2.5

Do what you say you will do for someone

to keep someone hooked
  • Informal
4 4.6

Make someone want to keep watching or reading

to keep the conversation going
4 3.4

Make people continue talking so the talk does not stop

to keep someone sweet
  • Informal
3 8.1

Make someone like you by giving them small gifts or help

to keep mum
  • Informal
3 7.5

Stay quiet about something private

to keep step
3 3.2

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

to keep captive
2 6.7

Hold someone's full attention so they cannot think of anything else

to keep on ice
2 7.9

To delay something and keep it for later use

to keep good time
2 2.7

Show the correct time all the time

to keep on practicing
1 2.6

Continue doing something to get better or keep your skills

to keep square
1 6.8

Make sure accounts have no debt or extra money

to keep shtum
  • Slang
1 9.9

To stay silent on purpose to avoid trouble

to keep to oneself
1 5.4

To not tell others your thoughts or feelings

to keep on pushing through
  • Informal
1 5.1

To continue to try hard even when things are difficult

Compounds

keep relay
  • Specialized
1 8.2

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

How Reliable

to uphold
224 4.4
to keep
356 1.0
to comply
245 3.8
to ignore
∞ 1.0

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 'observe'. So to keep a promise is to 'hold to' what you said and do it as you agreed.