Synonyms for keep
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Continue
continue, stay, remain, abide, stay over, try, go on, go along, last, endure, dwell, proceed, lodge, tarry dated
2. Preserve — to hold the status of something. To maintain the condition of; to preserve in a certain state
preserve, protect, tend, conserve, guard, uphold, shield, screen, harbor US, harbour UK, defend dated
3. Hold back
hold back, restrain, detain, refrain, hinder, withhold, conceal, repress, suppress dated
Definitions
- v. 1
To remain faithful to a given promise or word.
to keep one's word; to keep one's promise
- v. 2
To hold the status of something. To maintain the condition of; to preserve in a certain state.
I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.
- v. 3
To continue in (a course or mode of action); to not intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
to keep silence; to keep possession
- v. 4
To hold the status of something. To maintain possession of.
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.
Related words
- Word family
- keep-away keepsake
- Phrases
- keep up keep back keep on keep down keep going keep company keep faith keep off
Choose the right word
We keep the Sabbath, solemnize a marriage, observe an anniversary; we celebrate or observe the Lord's Supper in which believers commemorate the sufferings and death of Christ.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- continue We have to continue doing this until it gets done.
- remain No visitor can remain in the hospital after 9 p.m.
- abide We all must abide by laws to live in any society.
- protect We should tell children how to protect themselves.
- preserve Here are a few good rules on how to preserve food.
By length
- 3 letters
- try1
- 4 letters
- have1, last1, stay1, hold1, save1, tend1
- 5 letters
- carry2, guard1, honor2, lodge1, abide2, dwell1, tarry2
- 6 letters
- remain2, screen1, defend2, honour2, shield1, harbor2, retain2, endure2, uphold2, fulfil2, hinder2, detain2
- 7 letters
- protect2, prevent2, reserve2, proceed2, observe2, harbour2, fulfill2, sustain2, refrain2, conceal2, repress2
- 8 letters
- continue3, maintain2, preserve2, suppress2, conserve2, restrain2, withhold2, fullfill
- 9 letters
- celebrate3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (carry2 = 2 syllables).