keep

The word “keep” means to hold on to something or continue having it, rather than giving it up or losing it. In plain terms, to hold on to, continue, look after, or stay in a state — one of English's most flexible everyday verbs.

“Keep” is pronounced keep ([k̟çi(ː)p] in IPA).

Here is “keep” used in a sentence: “You can keep the book, I have another copy.”

Depending on how it is used, “keep” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “keep” comes from Old English. From Old English cēpan ("to seize, observe, take heed of"), a Germanic verb originally about watching and taking care.

“Keep” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Keep” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hold on to something or continue having it, rather than giving it up or losing it.

'Hold' usually means to grasp or carry something physically for a time. 'Keep' means to retain possession of it, often permanently, or to continue having it. You might hold a book while reading it, but keep it if you never give it back. Keeping implies ongoing possession; holding can be momentary.

Besides retaining possession, 'keep' can mean to continue doing something ('keep walking'), to store something in a place ('I keep it in the drawer'), to look after something ('keep a garden'), or to honour a promise or rule ('keep your word'). Context makes the intended meaning clear.

The main opposites are 'give away,' 'lose,' and 'discard' — all involving parting with something rather than holding on to it. Other antonyms include 'release,' 'surrender,' and 'abandon.' Where 'keep' means to continue, its opposite is 'stop,' as in stop rather than keep going.

'You can keep the change,' 'She keeps all her old photographs,' and 'Please keep this a secret' show the retaining sense. In the continue sense, you might say 'Keep trying' or 'The rain kept falling.' The word stresses holding on rather than letting go.