Quick Definition
Keep (verb) — to have or retain something; to continue doing something; to cause something or someone to remain in a state or place. Also: to honour an obligation. Keep (noun) — food and accommodation provided as payment; or the central tower of a medieval castle.
What Does Keep Mean?
Keep traces back to Old English cepan, meaning to seize, hold, or observe. It entered Middle English largely unchanged and by the 16th century had acquired all its modern verbal senses. The related noun sense of "castle tower" emerged around the same period. The idiom for keeps — meaning permanently — dates from 19th-century American English.
Today, keep is one of the 100 most frequently used words in English. Its versatility makes it essential at every level. At A2, learners use it to mean "not give back" (keep the change) or "continue" (keep going). At B2 and above, it appears in complex patterns: keep + object + adjective (keep the window closed), keep + object + -ing (keep them waiting), and a wide range of idiomatic collocations.
Note the key irregular form: keep – kept – kept. Many learners mistakenly produce keeped, which does not exist in standard English.
Core Meanings at a Glance
| Meaning | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Retain / not give back | keep + noun | Keep the change. |
| Continue an action | keep + -ing | Keep studying every day. |
| Remain / cause to remain | keep + adjective | Keep calm and carry on. |
| Honour an obligation | keep + noun | Always keep a promise. |
| Store or maintain | keep + noun + place | She keeps her passport in a drawer. |
| Food and lodging (noun) | earn one's keep | He earns his keep by cooking. |
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| Keep a vocabulary notebook and review it every weekend. | A2 keep + noun — retain / maintain |
| It was cold, so they kept the heating on all night. | B1 kept + noun + adjective — cause to remain in a state |
| She kept checking her phone even though the meeting had started. | B1 kept + -ing — repeated or continuing action |
| The project manager kept the team informed about every change in the schedule. | B2 keep + object + past participle — maintain a state |
| Despite the pressure, she kept her composure and delivered a flawless presentation. | C1 keep one's composure — formal idiom |
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning & example |
|---|---|
| keep a promise | Honour what you said you would do. Always keep your promises. |
| keep a secret | Not tell anyone confidential information. Can you keep a secret? |
| keep a diary | Write regularly in a personal journal. She has kept a diary since she was ten. |
| keep in touch | Maintain regular contact with someone. Let's keep in touch after the course. |
| keep an eye on | Watch or monitor something. Please keep an eye on the children. |
| keep track of | Monitor or record something over time. I use an app to keep track of expenses. |
| keep up with | Progress at the same rate as someone/something. It is hard to keep up with the news. |
| keep in mind | Remember something important. Keep in mind that the deadline is Friday. |
| keep calm | Remain composed under pressure. Keep calm and focus on the task. |
| keep going | Continue despite difficulty. It is tough, but keep going! |
Usage Notes
Key patterns to know
- keep + -ing — expresses a continuous or repeated action: Keep practising your pronunciation.
- keep + object + adjective — causes something to stay in a state: Keep the sauce warm.
- keep + object + past participle — indicates a maintained condition: Keep the door locked.
- keep + object + -ing — means to cause someone/something to continue an action: Sorry to keep you waiting.
- keep on + -ing — a slightly more emphatic form of keep + -ing, often implying persistence or annoyance: He keeps on asking the same question.
- As a noun, keep is mainly used in the fixed phrase earn one's keep (to work in return for board and lodging).
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
She keeped all the old letters. (irregular verb — keeped does not exist)
She kept all the old letters.
Keep to study every day. (keep must be followed by -ing, not the infinitive)
Keep studying every day.
I keep this book since last year. (retain over time requires present perfect)
I have kept this book since last year.
Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions about “keep”
What does keep mean in English?
Keep has several core meanings. As a verb it means (1) to hold onto or retain something ('keep a receipt'), (2) to continue doing something ('keep studying'), (3) to cause someone or something to remain in a state ('keep the door open'), and (4) to honour an obligation ('keep a promise'). As a noun it means food and accommodation ('earn your keep') or the main tower of a medieval castle.
What is the past tense of keep?
The past tense of keep is kept. Keep is an irregular verb: keep – kept – kept. Example: 'She kept all her old letters.' Many learners incorrectly say 'keeped', which is wrong. The past participle is also kept: 'I have kept your secret for years.'
What is the difference between keep and stay?
Keep and stay both suggest remaining in a condition, but they are used differently. Keep is usually followed by a present participle ('keep working') or an adjective with an object ('keep the room tidy'). Stay is more often used with an adjective without an object ('stay calm', 'stay healthy'). You can say 'keep calm' or 'stay calm' — both are correct.
How do you use keep + -ing?
Keep + -ing expresses the idea of continuing or repeating an action: 'Keep going!', 'He kept interrupting me.' It often implies persistence or annoyance depending on context. Do not use keep + infinitive for this meaning — 'keep to go' is incorrect. Use 'keep going' or 'keep on going'.
What are common collocations with keep?
Common collocations include: keep a promise, keep a secret, keep a diary, keep in touch, keep an eye on, keep track of, keep up with, keep in mind, keep calm, and keep going. These fixed phrases are extremely common in everyday English and are worth memorising as whole units.
What is the difference between keep and hold?
Hold usually describes a physical action — grasping something in your hand or arms ('hold the bag', 'hold my hand'). Keep focuses on retaining possession or maintaining a state over time ('keep the change', 'keep quiet'). You hold something briefly; you keep something long-term.
Can keep be used as a noun?
Yes. As a noun, keep has two meanings. First, 'keep' means food, lodging, and basic necessities — 'earn one's keep' means to work in return for food and shelter. Second, in historical contexts, the keep is the strongest, innermost tower of a castle, used as a last line of defence.
What is the phrasal verb keep up with?
'Keep up with' means to progress at the same rate as someone or something else: 'I find it hard to keep up with the news.' It can also mean to maintain regular contact: 'Do you still keep up with your old school friends?' It is one of the most useful phrasal verbs built from keep.
What is the origin of the word keep?
Keep comes from the Old English 'cepan', meaning to seize, hold, or observe. It is related to Old Norse 'kopa' (to stare at). By Middle English it had developed its modern senses of retaining and maintaining. The noun sense 'castle tower' emerged in the 16th century. The phrase 'for keeps' (permanently) dates from the 19th century.
How can I practise using keep in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise keep and its collocations in context. Flash Cards are great for drilling irregular forms (keep – kept – kept). You can also practise by writing five sentences using different meanings: keep + noun, keep + -ing, keep + adjective, keep a promise, and keep in touch.