keep
/ki:p/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To have or retain possession of something: To continue to have something and not give it away, lose it, or throw it out.
- To cause something or someone to remain in a specified state, condition, or place: To maintain a particular situation or position.
- To continue doing something: To persist in an action or activity.
- To store or maintain something for future use: To hold or preserve items in a particular location or condition.
- To fulfill a promise or commitment: To adhere to an agreement or rule.
- To provide for and look after someone or something: To support financially or take care of.
Noun:
- The cost of food and basic necessities for living: The money required for sustenance and lodging.
- The strongest or central tower of a medieval castle: The main fortified structure within a castle.
Usage Examples
Verb:
- Please keep this photograph as a souvenir. (To retain possession)
- She kept her composure during the difficult meeting. (To maintain a state)
- He keeps interrupting me. (To continue an action)
- We keep important documents in a safe. (To store)
- You must keep your promises. (To fulfill a commitment)
- He works hard to keep his family. (To provide for)
Noun:
- He earns enough to pay for his keep. (Cost of living)
- The castle's keep was the last line of defense. (Central tower)
Advanced Usage
"keep up with": To stay at the same level or pace as someone or something.
- It's hard to keep up with all the new technology.
"keep in mind": To remember or consider something.
- Keep in mind that the store closes early today.
"keep an eye on": To watch or monitor something or someone.
- Can you keep an eye on my bag while I buy a ticket?
Variants and Related Words
- Keeper (n): A person who manages or looks after something (e.g., a , a ).
- Keeping (n): The act of holding or retaining something; care or custody (e.g., ).
- Well-kept (adj): Maintained in good condition (e.g., ).
Synonyms
- Retain: To continue to have something.
- Maintain: To cause something to continue or to keep in good condition.
- Preserve: To keep something in its original state or in good condition.
- Store: To put something away for future use.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Keep away (from): To avoid going near something or someone.
- Keep away from the edge of the cliff.
Keep back: To not give all of something; to withhold.
- The teacher kept back a few students after class.
Keep on: To continue doing something.
- He just kept on talking.
Keep out: To not enter a place.
- The sign says "Keep out."
Related Idioms
Keep a straight face: To stop yourself from smiling or laughing.
- The joke was so funny it was hard to keep a straight face.
Keep your chin up: To stay cheerful in a difficult situation.
- I know you're disappointed, but keep your chin up.
Keep someone at arm's length: To avoid becoming too friendly or close with someone.
- She tends to keep new colleagues at arm's length.
Keep your fingers crossed: To hope for good luck.
- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get the job.
Noun
- a cell in a jail or prison
- the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress
- the financial means whereby one lives
- each child was expected to pay for their keep
- he applied to the state for support
- he could no longer earn his own livelihood
Verb
- prevent (food) from rotting
- preserved meats
- keep potatoes fresh
- hold and prevent from leaving
- The student was kept after school
- maintain for use and service
- I keep a car in the countryside
- She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips
- have as a supply
- I always keep batteries in the freezer
- keep food for a week in the pantry
- She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator
- store or keep customarily
- Where do you keep your gardening tools?
- retain rights to
- keep my job for me while I give birth
- keep my seat, please
- keep open the possibility of a merger
- raise
- She keeps a few chickens in the yard
- he keeps bees
- maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
- May God keep you
- keep under control; keep in check
- suppress a smile
- Keep your temper
- keep your cool
- behave as expected during of holidays or rites
- Keep the commandments
- celebrate Christmas
- Observe Yom Kippur
- fail to spoil or rot
- These potatoes keep for a long time
- supply with necessities and support
- She alone sustained her family
- The money will sustain our good cause
- There's little to earn and many to keep
- allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
- We cannot continue several servants any longer
- She retains a lawyer
- The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
- Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
- We kept the work going as long as we could
- She retained her composure
- this garment retains its shape even after many washings
- supply with room and board
- He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
- keep boarders
- maintain by writing regular records
- keep a diary
- maintain a record
- keep notes
- look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
- He keeps the shop when I am gone
- stick to correctly or closely
- The pianist kept time with the metronome
- keep count
- I cannot keep track of all my employees
- conform one's action or practice to
- keep appointments
- she never keeps her promises
- We kept to the original conditions of the contract
- stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state
- We must prevent the cancer from spreading
- His snoring kept me from falling asleep
- Keep the child from eating the marbles
- retain possession of
- Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
- She kept her maiden name after she married
- continue a certain state, condition, or activity
- Keep on working!
- We continued to work into the night
- Keep smiling
- We went on working until well past midnight
- keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"
- hold in place
- She always held herself as a lady
- The students keep me on my toes