keep

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”

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”

retain possession of

• “Can I keep my old stuffed animals?”
• “She kept her maiden name after she married”

examine in order to test suitability

• “screen these samples”
• “screen the job applicants”

conform one''s action or practice to

• “keep appointments”
• “she never keeps her promises”
• “We kept to the original conditions of the contract”

observe correctly or closely

• “The pianist kept time with the metronome”
• “keep count”
• “I cannot keep track of all my employees”

look after; be the keeper of; have charge of

• “He keeps the shop when I am gone”

maintain by writing regular records

• “keep a diary”
• “maintain a record”
• “keep notes”

supply with room and board

• “He is keeping three women in the guest cottage”
• “keep boarders”

allow to remain in a place or position

• “We cannot continue several servants any longer”
• “She retains a lawyer”
• “The family”
• “;”
• “;”

supply with necessities and support

• “She alone sustained her family”
• “The money will sustain our good cause”
• “There”

fail to spoil or rot

• “These potatoes keep for a long time”

celebrate, as of holidays or rites

• “Keep the commandments”
• “celebrate Christmas”
• “Observe Yom Kippur”

keep under control; keep in check

• “suppress a smile”
• “Keep your temper”
• “keep your cool”

maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger

• “May God keep you”

raise

• “She keeps a few chickens in the yard”
• “he keeps bees”

retain rights to

• “keep my job for me while I give birth”
• “keep my seat, please”
• “keep open the possibility of a merger”

store or keep customarily

• “Where do you keep your gardening tools?”

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”

maintain for use and service

• “I keep a car in the countryside”
• “She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips”

hold and prevent from leaving

• “The student was kept after school”

prevent (food) from rotting

• “preserved meats”
• “keep potatoes fresh”

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”

the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress

a cell in a jail or prison