keeping

The word “keeping” means agreement or harmony, especially in the phrase "in keeping with". In plain terms, mostly used in the set phrases "in keeping with" (matching or fitting) and "in someone's keeping" (in their care).

“Keeping” is pronounced KEE-pihng (/ˈkiːpɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “keeping” used in a sentence: “The new extension is in keeping with the style of the original house.”

“Keeping” is a noun.

“Keeping” is a very common word in modern English.

“Keeping” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: agreement or harmony, especially in the phrase "in keeping with".

It means in harmony or agreement with something, matching its style, spirit, or rules. If a new extension is in keeping with an old house, it fits naturally alongside it. The phrase is the most common way this sense of 'keeping', meaning harmony or consistency, appears in everyday English.

You might say, 'The quiet ceremony was in keeping with her modest character,' or 'The new storefront is in keeping with the historic street.' In both, something matches or suits the surrounding style or expectation, showing the harmony that this sense of 'keeping' describes.

The opposite is 'out of keeping', meaning something clashes or does not fit its surroundings, like a modern glass tower out of keeping with old cottages. Phrases such as 'at odds with' or 'inconsistent with' carry the same sense of disharmony rather than agreement.