Synonyms for 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"

Synonyms

maintainhold

More specific

pressurizecontinuehold overconservepreservedistancehousekeep

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"

Synonyms

continuego onproceedgo along

More specific

holdrun onride

Broader

act

retain possession of

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

Synonyms

hold on

More specific

carry overdenywithholdsavestoreretainharbor

Broader

have

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"

Synonyms

prevent

More specific

defendexcludeholdkeep awayblankimpederain out

conform one's action or practice to

"keep appointments" "she never keeps her promises" "We kept to the original conditions of the contract"

Synonyms

observe

More specific

make good

stick to correctly or closely

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

Synonyms

observemaintain

look after; be the keeper of; have charge of

"He keeps the shop when I am gone"

More specific

conserve

Broader

have

maintain by writing regular records

"keep a diary" "maintain a record" "keep notes"

Synonyms

maintain

Broader

record

supply with room and board

"He is keeping three women in the guest cottage" "keep boarders"

Broader

lodge

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"

Synonyms

retaincontinuekeep on

Broader

prolong

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"

Synonyms

sustainmaintain

More specific

patronagereseedcarry

Broader

have

fail to spoil or rot

"These potatoes keep for a long time"

Synonyms

stay fresh

Broader

stay

behave as expected during of holidays or rites

"Keep the commandments" "celebrate Christmas" "Observe Yom Kippur"

Synonyms

observecelebrate

More specific

commemoratemournsolemnize

keep under control; keep in check

"suppress a smile" "Keep your temper" "keep your cool"

Synonyms

restrainkeep backhold back

More specific

holdconfineinhibitcontrol

Broader

inhibit

maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger

"May God keep you"

Synonyms

preserve

Broader

protect

raise

"She keeps a few chickens in the yard" "he keeps bees"

More specific

herd

Broader

grow

retain rights to

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

Synonyms

keep openhold opensave

Broader

reserve

store or keep customarily

"Where do you keep your gardening tools?"

Broader

store

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"

Broader

have

maintain for use and service

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

Synonyms

maintain

Broader

have

hold and prevent from leaving

"The student was kept after school"

Broader

confine

prevent (food) from rotting

"preserved meats" "keep potatoes fresh"

Synonyms

preserve

More specific

freeze-dryconservedehydratepicklesaltcanrefrigeratecurecorn

Broader

cook

Verb

Noun

Explore more synonyms for Keep