keep - meaning, examples in English

verb “keep”

 keep; he keeps; past kept, part. kept; ger. keeping

to preserve (something) in a certain state or place
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She keeps her diary locked to ensure her privacy.
to maintain possession of
She keeps a small box of chewing gum in case she needs to freshen her breath.
to continue doing something without stopping
She promised to keep writing letters to him while he was overseas.
to remain in a state
To win the game, she kept quiet about her strategy.
(transitive) to make sure that something remains in a state
Please keep the door closed while the air conditioning is on.
to stay true to a commitment
Despite the challenges, he kept his vow to always support his friend.
to not tell others about something secret
She promised to keep the secret.
(of a diary, account, records etc.) to maintain a regular record of events or information for future reference
She keeps meticulous records of all her business meetings.
to support someone financially with what they need to live
She has been keeping her elderly parents, ensuring they have everything they need.
to protect or guard someone or something
I will keep the cookies from the dog so he doesn't eat them.
(of living things) to take care of
She keeps bees in her backyard for honey.
to not stop doing something
She keeps practicing piano every day, hoping to get better.
(of food) to stay good
Honey will keep almost indefinitely thanks to its anti-bacterial properties.

 sg. keep, pl. keeps or uncountable

the essentials needed for living like food and shelter
She took in the stray cat, providing shelter and her keep.
the central stronghold of a castle
The king's treasure was securely stored in the keep, the most fortified part of the castle.