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Glite Dictionary
to keep guard

to keep guard

2 3.1
To stay and watch to protect people or a place
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : hacer guardia
  • Like a mythic beast, she stood behind the hotel desk, keeping guard on the door.
  • the one who keeps guard

Examples

  • Ray stood below Rokey, patiently keeping guard.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • And tell him to keep guard over them and let no one near them.

    Dracula's Daughter (1936)

  • I need men like them to help us keep guard at night.

    I Dreamed of Africa (2000)

  • You stay inside and keep guard.

    Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004)

  • I'm gonna keep guard outside.

    Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)

  • Wanting to find out what she was doing before confronting her, the man decided to stay awake at night and keep guard.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I'll keep guard.

    Pineapple Express (2008)

  • Good, I'll keep guard.

    Nickelodeon (1976)

  • She was happily keeping guard of this beautiful creature until the park ranger arrived.

    Blog text (27)

  • I need you to keep guard at the entrance to ensure everyone's safety.

Synonyms

to watch
vsto keep guard
∞ 1.0

To be careful and pay attention to possible danger

implies active protection and defense rather than general vigilance
to keep an eye on
vsto keep guard
  • Informal
408 2.4

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

emphasizes active protection and defense more than careful observation
to watch over
vsto keep guard
145 2.3

To look after someone or something to keep them safe

focuses more on active protection and defense rather than everyday supervision
to keep an eye out
vsto keep guard
  • Informal
134 3.2

Watch carefully for someone or something

is about cautious alertness for an event rather than active protection
to patrol
vsto keep guard
64 3.5

To move regularly through an area to keep it safe

focuses on staying in one place to protect rather than moving around
to keep watch
vsto keep guard
30 3.1

To stay alert and watch for danger or trouble

has the same meaning but uses a different wording or phrasing
to stay alert
vsto keep guard
28 3.4

To watch carefully so you notice danger or changes

focuses on taking protective action rather than only noticing danger
to stand guard
vsto keep guard
27 3.2

To stay in one place and watch to protect someone or something

has the same purpose but is expressed in different words
to stand watch
vsto keep guard
  • Jargon
10 3.4

To stay awake and guard people or a place

shares the same idea but differs only in wording
to keep a close watch
vsto keep guard
8 3.0

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

focuses on active protection and defense rather than only close observation
to stand sentinel
vsto keep guard
  • Literature
1 7.0

To watch and guard a place or person

is the everyday form for the same protective action rather than formal

Antonyms

to neglect
256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Watchful

to keep guard
2 3.1
patrol
253 3.2
to watch
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

keep + guard

The meaning 'to remain on watch' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'keep' (to continue or remain) with 'guard' (a person or duty of protecting); together they naturally mean to maintain a guarding/watch duty. This verb+noun compositional pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The verb keep guard comes from the simple image of a person who keeps watch as a guard, standing at a gate or door to protect others. That's why it now means 'to stay on watch to protect someone or something'.