keep

The word "keep" has many different meanings when used as a verb:

1. To store or preserve the safety of something for a short time or a long time:

• Where do you keep your socks?
• She kept her keys in her purse.
• Pictures of our family are kept in photo albums.
• It’s a good idea to keep your car in a garage.
• He keeps his money in a piggy bank.

piggy bank

2. To promise not to say something:

• Can you keep a secret?
• Let’s keep this between ourselves.
• He’s keeping his mouth shut about this.
• She can’t keep quiet about anything.

3. To honor one’s obligations:

• You have to keep your promise.
• Tony is good about keeping his commitments.
• She kept her word.

4. To prevent someone from doing something:

• The sign says "Keep off the grass."
• The judge kept the man from speaking.
• The police kept us from coming closer to the house that was on fire.
• She can’t keep herself from smoking.

5. To maintain something:

• He keeps a journal and writes in it daily.
• They keep a busy schedule.
• Bob does a good job of keeping up on his house.

6. To maintain the same speed or effort:

• You’re walking too fast. I can’t keep up with you.
• Glenda is having a hard time keeping up with her homework.
• He can’t keep up with the other students.
• The horse that finished last wasn’t able to keep up the pace set by the other horses.

7. To continue:

• Savannah keeps working even though she hates her job.
• You have to keep studying. Don’t stop.
• The kids kept talking even though their teacher told them to stop.
• To keep your car running you have to take care of it.

Common expressions:

• Keep your mouth shut. (Don’t say anything)
• Keep it under your hat. (Don’t say anything.)
• Keep going. (Continue onward)
• Keep the faith. (Believe in this.)
• Keep back. (Don’t come close. There’s danger.)
• Keep at it. (Don’t stop)
• Keep away. (Stay away.)
• Keep on keeping on. (Continue.)
• Keep up the good work. (Continue doing what you’ve been doing.)

Sometimes this word is used as a noun:

• He earns his keep as a bartender. (He makes enough money to take care of himself.)
• Is this for keeps? (Can I have this permanently?)
• Finders keepers losers weepers. (If you lose something, that’s too bad. Whoever finds it can have it.)

To learn more about using "keep" as a verb, click here.

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July 12, 2013