Dictionary Home » Thesaurus » keep

Synonyms for keep

Listen See in Dictionary See in a sentence

verb

To hold
retain, grip, grasp, have; see hold 1.
To maintain
preserve, conserve, care for; see maintain 3, preserve 3.
To continue
keep going, carry on, persist, sustain; see continue 1, endure 1.
To operate
administer, run, direct; see command 2, manage 1.
To tend
care for, minister to, attend; see tend 1.
To remain
stay, continue, last, abide; see continue 1, endure 1, remain 1.
To store
deposit, cache, put; see save 3, store.
To prevent; used with from
stop, block, avert; see hinder, prevent, restrain 1.
To observe
adhere to, fulfill, celebrate; see celebrate 1, follow 2, obey 2. See syn. study at celebrate.

for keeps*

permanently, finally, for always, for good; see finally 1, forever 1.

See keep in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II

verb

To have and maintain in one's possession:
hold, hold back, keep back, reserve, retain, withhold. See keep
To have for sale:
carry, stock. See keep
To supply with the necessities of life:
maintain, provide for, support. Idiom: take care of. See care for
To have or put in a customary place:
store. See place
To remain fresh and unspoiled:
last². See change
To persevere in some condition, action, or belief:
maintain, retain, stay with. See continue
To control, restrict, or arrest:
bit², brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain. See restraint
To hold oneself back:
abstain, forbear, hold off, refrain, withhold. See restraint
To reserve for the future:
lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by. See keep, save
To carry out the functions, requirements, or terms of:
discharge, do, execute, exercise, fulfill, implement, perform. Idiom: live up to. See do
To act in conformity with:
abide by, adhere, carry out, comply, conform, follow, mind, obey, observe. Idiom: toe the line (or mark). See accept, same
To mark (a day or an event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing:
celebrate, commemorate, observe, solemnize. See remember

phrasal verb
keep back

To have and maintain in one's possession:
hold, hold back, keep, reserve, retain, withhold. See keep
To control, restrict, or arrest:
bit², brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain. See restraint

phrasal verb
keep off

To turn or drive away:

beat off, fend (off), parry, repel, repulse, ward off. See allow, strike

phrasal verb
keep on

To continue without halting despite difficulties or setbacks:

carry on, go on, hang on, persevere, persist. Idioms: hang in there, keep going , keep it up. See continue

phrasal verb
keep out

To keep from being admitted, included, or considered:

bar, count out, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, rule out, shut out. See include

phrasal verb
keep up

To keep in a condition of good repair, efficiency, or use:

maintain, preserve, sustain. See keep

noun

The means needed to support life:
alimentation, alimony, bread, bread and butter, livelihood, living, maintenance, subsistence, support, sustenance, upkeep. See money
A place for the confinement of persons in lawful detention:
brig, house of correction, jail, penitentiary, prison. (Informal) lockup, pen³. (Slang) big house, can, clink, cooler, coop, hoosegow, joint, jug, pokey¹, slammer, stir². (Chiefly Regional) calaboose. See free

See keep in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

keep retain withhold reserve

These verbs mean to have and maintain in one's possession or control. Keep is the most general: We received a few offers but decided to keep the house.
Retain means to continue to hold, especially in the face of possible loss: Though unhappy, he retained his sense of humor.
Withhold implies reluctance or refusal to give, grant, or allow: The tenant withheld his rent until the owner fixed the boiler.
To reserve is to hold back for the future or for a special purpose: The farmer reserved two acres for an orchard.

More from YD

keep alive bits

» more results...

keep up with the Joneses