keep 1 of 2

1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony keep the Sabbath by not working

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to store
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
as in to maintain
to pay the living expenses of agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs

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keep

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word keep different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of keep are celebrate, commemorate, and observe. While all these words mean "to notice or honor a day, occasion, or deed," keep stresses the idea of not neglecting or violating.

kept the Sabbath by refraining from work

Where would celebrate be a reasonable alternative to keep?

While in some cases nearly identical to keep, celebrate suggests acknowledging an occasion by festivity.

traditionally celebrates Thanksgiving with a huge dinner

When might commemorate be a better fit than keep?

In some situations, the words commemorate and keep are roughly equivalent. However, commemorate suggests that an occasion is marked by observances that remind one of the origin and significance of the event.

commemorate Memorial Day with the laying of wreaths

When is it sensible to use observe instead of keep?

Although the words observe and keep have much in common, observe suggests marking the occasion by ceremonious performance.

not all holidays are observed nationally

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keep
Verb
Then, use your human connection skills to foster collaboration, resolve conflict, and keep people aligned, motivated, and moving forward. Adaptability. William Arruda, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 Except for what keeps coming up in this most interesting of books. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
Tell that to the millions of regular people working at fast-food joints and factories who must go to work every day to earn their keep. Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025 Why does the corporate portion of income tax keep falling? Erik Sherman, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
  • Carey recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her album The Emancipation of Mimi with The Emancipation of Mimi (20th Anniversary Edition) and an additional digital deluxe edition.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
  • This Ohio woman sued her employer claiming discrimination over her heterosexuality, and this star celebrated her 60th birthday wearing a bikini.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Cons Vermiculite can retain too much water for plants that thrive in drier conditions.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2025
  • Humectants are substances that attract and retain water molecules, keeping things moist and hydrated by drawing moisture from the air or from deeper layers of the skin.
    Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • These are the building blocks that will help retailers fulfill the promise of their RMNs—not just as a media platform, but as a growth engine.
    Lindsey Mazza, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • In Anderson’s lavishly talented ensembles, the majority of the performers fulfill the basic requirements of being in a Wes Anderson movie, which can involve spitting out long reams of dialogue quickly, directly, without a lot of sauce.
    Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • Files are encrypted both during transfer and while stored, and Koofr does not track your usage or behavior, which helps keep your data private.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
  • The training requires access to vast amounts of data that can best be stored in the cloud.
    John Clemons, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • The Athletic maintains full editorial independence.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 15 June 2025
  • Which is why one of Google’s top security brains has also urged all users to stop using their passwords, which are painful to maintain and prone to phishing attacks.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • Kieran manages to survive, and Sean is finally held accountable and arrested for the deaths of Gabby Birch and Bronte Laidler.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Now managed by the National Trust, the estate is open to the public, allowing visitors to step inside and experience firsthand the setting of one of literature’s most enduring love stories.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Lau’s discipline is the physical extension of a whole philosophy of muscle development, harnessing of qi (energy) to help people know and control their body.
    Jia H. Jung, Mercury News, 4 June 2025
  • The missing money controlled by Velazquez was supposed to go toward undercover narcotics operations.
    Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The Marines are tasked with protecting federal facilities and personnel, according to a statement from U.S. Northern Command, and will operate under Task Force 51—a contingency unit created to coordinate military support for domestic emergencies.
    Nik Popli, Time, 11 June 2025
  • Although these challenges are external and somewhat unavoidable, business leaders can better protect themselves, starting with ensuring their network connectivity is robust.
    Sander Barens, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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