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Glite Dictionary
kept

kept

1.8
A promise or agreement that someone does not break
  • adjective
  • /kɛpt/
translation icon : cumplido
  • The agreement was kept in good faith.

Examples

  • He always kept his promises, showing that he was a trustworthy friend.

  • The peace treaty was a kept agreement for over ten years.

  • A kept contract builds trust between business partners.

  • She always valued a kept promise more than empty words.

  • She has always kept her promises.

  • The club has maintained its reputation as the best-kept secret in the city.

  • She felt secure knowing that the agreement they made was kept in good faith.

Synonyms

unbroken
vskept
  • Formal
2 4.0

Kept as agreed over a period of time

focuses on meeting obligations fully rather than ongoing continuity

Antonyms

broken
10 2.4

Not kept or not done as promised

Compounds

best-kept secret
8 4.5

A place or thing only a few people know about that is especially good

well-kept
7 1.8

Neat and in good condition because someone looks after it

kept up
5 3.0

People take care of it so it stays in good condition

kept man
  • Slang
2 8.4

A man who depends on a woman for money while they have a romantic relationship

worst-kept secret
  • Informal
2 3.4

A fact many people know although others try to keep it hidden

kept woman
  • NSFW
1 8.4

A woman who a lover pays for, often when he is married to someone else

How Kept

kept
1.8
unfulfilled
4 4.4
broken
10 2.4

Surface Forms

kept positive

Morphology

kept = keep (semi-transparent) = keep + ed

This is the past participial form of 'keep', but the irregular spelling change from 'keep' to 'kept' can make the form slightly less transparent for learners.

Etymology

Kept comes from the old verb keep, which meant 'to hold' or 'to guard'. So a kept promise or contract is like something you 'held' safely — you did what you agreed to do.