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

keep

8 8.6

The main strong tower in a castle

noun
/kip/

: torre del homenaje

The dark stones of the keep closed around her, shutting out the shouts from above.
stone keep
a towering keep
walls of the keep

Examples

In time, the great keep of Rochester was rebuilt.

Ironclad (2011)
From the highest point of the keep, the lord could survey the entire kingdom.
Inside the Keep, it was almost like a dream...

The ARK (2022)
"Can you make it to the keep, or shall we carry you?"

Fiction book (1992)
If she tried to hold the keep against him, someone would surely let him in.

Fiction book (1999)
The chapel lay just below her, on the main floor of the keep.

Fiction book (1999)
The defenders of the keep work fiercely to hold them back.

Fiction book (2002)
Two mural towers and the keep itself overlooked the little gate that led into the lower bailey.

Fiction book (1999)
The Keep was filled with the priceless relics seized from evildoers... and only Harpers could gain access to the vault.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
The soldiers gathered in the keep, ready to defend against the enemy attack.

Synonyms

stronghold

vskeep

64 5.5

A protected place, often a castle, where people defend themselves from attack

is more specific, meaning the main tower inside walls used for last defense and residence

dungeon

vskeep

Archaic

2 6.0

The main tower inside a castle that people use for protection

is instead the tower used as the final line of defense and lord's home

donjon

vskeep

Archaic

9.9

The main tower of a medieval castle where people live and defend the castle

is the more general name for that same defensive tower and residence

Idioms

to keep one's mouth shut

Informal

116 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

to keep one's eyes open

97 3.8

Watch carefully for danger or a chance

to keep one's head down

41 6.3

Avoid getting noticed to stay out of trouble

to keep the peace

38 3.7

Prevent people from arguing or fighting so things stay calm

to keep a low profile

36 3.9

Act quietly so people do not notice you

to keep one's cool

Informal

30 3.4

Stay calm and control your feelings when things are hard

to keep it simple

28 2.7

Make something easy to understand by not adding extra details

to keep one's fingers crossed

Informal

20 3.5

To hope something will turn out well

to keep one's eyes peeled

Informal

16 4.6

Watch carefully for something important or dangerous

to keep one's options open

15 4.2

To avoid choosing now so other choices remain

to keep one's eye on the ball

Informal

15 5.6

Pay attention to the main goal and avoid distractions

to keep one's distance (from)

12 4.2

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

to keep one's nose clean

Informal

11 6.8

To avoid trouble and not attract bad attention

to keep head above water

Informal

8 4.7

To avoid serious money problems during hard times

to keep up appearances

Informal

8 6.7

Act as if everything is fine in front of other people

to keep a close watch

8 3.0

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

to keep one's chin up

Informal

8 6.5

To stay cheerful and hopeful when things go wrong

to keep one's pants on

Informal

7 8.5

To stay calm and patient instead of getting angry

to keep up with the Joneses

Informal

4 7.5

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

to keep it in the family

Informal

4 7.1

To not tell people outside the family about important things

to keep one's ears open

Informal

4 3.7

Stay alert to hear useful news or information

to keep someone's head in the game

Informal

4 7.4

To stay focused and calm in a difficult situation

to keep up with the times

3 3.9

Stay modern by learning about new trends

to keep a cool head

3 3.9

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

to keep someone on edge

Informal

2 7.4

Make someone feel nervous and unsure about what will happen

to keep one's nose to the grindstone

Informal

1 7.7

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

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 home fires burning

Archaic

1 6.4

Make the home warm and caring while someone is away

to keep your head on a swivel

Informal

1 8.1

To stay very alert and watch what is happening around you

to keep one's cards close to one's chest

Informal

1 7.6

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

to keep one's sanity

1 7.0

To stay calm and able to think clearly under stress

to keep one's end up

1 7.4

Continue doing your part for the team when things are hard

to keep one's temper

1 4.4

Stay calm and not get angry in a difficult situation

to keep the pot boiling

Informal

1 7.2

To make people stay interested and active in a project

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 knickers on

1 9.6

Stay calm and do not become angry or upset

to keep your pants on

Informal

1 8.6

Stay calm and be patient

to take a licking and keep on ticking

Archaic

1 9.2

To keep going without giving up after facing many hard times

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 a dog and bark yourself

9.9

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

to keep a tight ship

6.5

Run a team or group strictly and efficiently

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 juicy

7.9

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

to keep it one hundred

Slang

9.7

To be completely honest and direct with someone

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

to keep one's eyes skinned

8.2

Watch carefully for danger or a chance to act

to keep one's shoulder to the wheel

Informal

7.7

To work hard and continue when things are difficult

to keep one's head

4.6

Stay calm and think clearly in a difficult or dangerous situation

Compounds

keep relay

Specialized

8.2

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

How Big

citadel

51 7.7

fortress

106 4.4

keep

8 8.6

tower

547 1.0

turret

12 7.2

Surface Forms

keep singular

keeps plural

Etymology

Keep for the main tower of a castle comes from the idea of keep 'to hold' or 'protect', because the tower was the place where people and goods were kept safe in a fight.