keep
Castle's central tower
Keep is one of the most frequent verbs in English, with meanings centered around the idea of preservation, storage, and conservation.
If you keep a record of something, you maintain and update it as needed.
If you keep animals or pets, they live on the same property as you do.
Food that keeps for a week remains unspoiled for that long.
When keep is followed by a participle, it means do continuously: How can I explain if you keep interrupting?
Keep is also used in many fixed expressions, such as keep an eye out (watch for something), keep track of (maintain or monitor something’s condition), and keep pace with (stay current or move at the same speed).
Keep in condition
- hold ontoKeep in one's grasp
- preserveProtect from loss
- sustainKeep something going continuously
- conserveKeep from being depleted
safeguard · continue · uphold · perpetuate · cherish · nurture · harbor · protect
Protected sacred space
- havenShelter from danger
- shelterProtected place or structure
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- hideawaySecluded place of refuge
hideout · den · preserve · reserve · habitat · safe place · stronghold · protection
Defensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- turretProtruding fortified structure
- battlementsNotched defensive wall top
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
citadel · rampart · bastion · portcullis · barbican · stronghold · garrison · watchtower
Confine as punishment
- detainHold in custody
- cageBarred confinement structure
- restrainLimit freedom of movement
- incarcerateConfine in detention
quarantine · hold captive · lock up · intern · remand · impound · immure · seclude
Token of recollection
- souvenirToken from a trip
- memorabiliaCollected items of significance
- tokenRepresentative placeholder
- reminderMemory aid
heirloom · treasure · remembrance · relic · trophy · photograph · scrapbook · nostalgia
hold
Maintain in grasp
retain · store · stock · stash · hoard · accumulate · collect · maintain · secure · safekeep
maintain
Keep in condition
conserve · safeguard · continue · uphold · perpetuate · cherish · nurture · harbor · protect · save
sanctuary
Protected sacred space
hideaway · hideout · den · preserve · reserve · habitat · safe place · stronghold · protection · security
moat
Defensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- turretProtruding fortified structure
- battlementsNotched defensive wall top
dungeon · citadel · rampart · bastion · portcullis · barbican · stronghold · garrison · watchtower · bailey
imprison
Confine as punishment
incarcerate · quarantine · hold captive · lock up · intern · remand · impound · immure · seclude · institutionalize
memento
Token of recollection
- souvenirToken from a trip
- memorabiliaCollected items of significance
- tokenRepresentative placeholder
reminder · heirloom · treasure · remembrance · relic · trophy · photograph · scrapbook · nostalgia · sentimental
- verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
- helpingaid, assist, give a hand, help, helping hand
- long E soundbee, fee, see, tee, free
- castlesmoat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret, battlements
- confinementcell, cage, prison, jail, imprisonment
- preservationpreserve, preservatives, preservative, canning, freezing
- keep outPrevent entry
- keep goingMaintain forward progress
- keep upMaintain pace or standard
- keep it upEncouragement to persist
- keep quietRemain silent
- keep awayRemain at distance
keeper, keeping, upkeep, keeps, keepsake, shopkeeper, housekeeper, bookkeeper, innkeeper