1
as in to celebrate
to mark with an appropriate practice, rite, or ceremony
keep the Sabbath by not working
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to retain
to continue to have in one's possession or power
the money is yours to keep keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of
make sure you keep your promise to help out at the homeless shelter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
enlisted a relative to keep the store while she was away
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to keep your composure no matter what happens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
may God bless and keep you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preserving
the act or activity of keeping something in an existing and usually satisfactory condition
the keep of the stable is mainly left to the two equine-loving daughters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Chris Kenning, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
She was set to compete in the women’s super-G as well, but the crash may very well keep her out of that event.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Heather Bien, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
The Mercedes-Benz cars were rolled out with lane keep and driver assistance features to help drivers stay in their lanes, Kani said.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for keep
Verb
Schweit said Braun was thrown in the trunk of a car and later kept chained in a snowmobile trailer.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
She was set to compete in the women’s super-G as well, but the crash may very well keep her out of that event.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
Furniture needs to do more than look pretty to earn its keep.
—Heather Bien, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
The Mercedes-Benz cars were rolled out with lane keep and driver assistance features to help drivers stay in their lanes, Kani said.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for keep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keep
Verb
-
Van Der Beek recounted their first meeting in a 2020 Instagram post celebrating the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Diaz suffered a major knee injury while celebrating a win during the 2023 tournament and missed the entire MLB season with the New York Mets.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company expects to close a deal in the spring to sell 60% of its China business to Boyu Capital, while retaining a 40% stake.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The next year, he was appointed sheriff, but lost an election in 2016 to retain the position.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Androw, owner of E & D Pizza in Avon and a leader on the national pizza scene is known for using pizza for good causes from hunger to fulfilling the wishes of terminally ill children.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Amazon distribution center in Stone Mountain is preparing to fulfill thousands of orders for Cyber Monday.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
More than 12,000 scrolls were once stored inside this second-century center of learning before a fire destroyed them in 262 CE.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Mammals and reptiles were commonly treated with formalin before being stored in alcohol, while invertebrates were often preserved directly in formaldehyde or mixed solutions containing additives such as glycerol or propylene glycol.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Members of the final 18-person jury panel will be allowed to maintain their normal social media use throughout the trial.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Authorities stressed that the game sites — located in Lombardy on the Swiss border, Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto and Val di Fiemme in Trentino — remain safe, well-maintained and closely monitored.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So now, a team that has defeated conference leaders such as Oklahoma City, Denver, Detroit and New York, also has managed to fall to the lottery likes of Utah, Indiana and Sacramento, with the 15-40 Pelicans up next.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Interestingly, and likely due to the fact that all six episodes were released at once, Steal even managed to make Luminate’s Top 50 list just based on its first two days of viewing.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And on the other side, artists can really control what the narratives are about them.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The story about a woman, who is considered a cursed bride, and her husband, who pretends to be possessed in an attempt to control her, is the first all-Pakistani feature at the Berlin International Film Festival, which has in the past featured Pakistani co-productions.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ratcliffe’s comments align with the arguments made by Britain’s right-wing populist Reform UK party, which ties its anti-immigrant message to protecting the country.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Medical workers sympathetic to the uprising, meanwhile, have also changed the names and injuries listed on some patients’ medical charts, to protect their identities from authorities.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Keep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keep. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
