Idioms for keep

Origin of keep

before 1000; Middle English kepen, Old English cēpan to observe, heed, watch, await, take; perhaps akin to Old English gecōp proper, fitting, capian to look, Old Norse kōpa to stare

SYNONYMS FOR keep

1 Keep, reserve, retain, withhold refer to having and holding in possession. Keep (a common word) and retain (a more formal one) agree in meaning to continue to have or hold, as opposed to losing, parting with, or giving up: to keep a book for a week. To reserve is to keep for some future use, occasion, or recipient, or to hold back for a time: to reserve judgment. To withhold is generally to hold back altogether: to withhold help.
6 preserve.
8 detain, confine.
41 donjon, dungeon, stronghold.

ANTONYMS FOR keep

8 release.

OTHER WORDS FROM keep

keep·a·ble, adjective keep·a·bil·i·ty, noun

British Dictionary definitions for keep to (1 of 2)

keep to

verb (preposition)

to adhere to or stand by or cause to adhere to or stand by to keep to a promise
to confine or be confined to
keep to oneself
  1. (intr) to avoid the society of others
  2. (tr) to refrain from sharing or disclosing
keep oneself to oneself to avoid the society of others

British Dictionary definitions for keep to (2 of 2)

keep
/ (kiːp) /

verb keeps, keeping or kept (kɛpt)

noun

Word Origin for keep

Old English cēpan to observe; compare Old Saxon kapōn to look, Old Norse kōpa to stare

Idioms and Phrases with keep to (1 of 2)

keep to

1

Adhere to, conform to, as in Let's keep to the original purpose of this will. [Early 1600s]

2

Confine oneself to, as in Whenever she didn't feel well, she kept to her bed. Also see keep to oneself.

Idioms and Phrases with keep to (2 of 2)

keep