kept

Didn't let go

Kept is the past tense and past participle of keep, carrying all its meanings into past contexts: She kept the secret for years; He kept his promise.

A kept person, usually a kept woman or kept man, is one maintained financially by a lover, often with connotations of being a mistress or dependent in a transactional relationship.

Something well-kept is maintained in good condition; a well-kept secret is one successfully hidden.

retained

held

Kept in grasp

savedKept from loss
storedKept in reserve
hoardedCollected and concealed

stashed · stockpiled · accumulated · collected · reserved · banked · squirreled · tucked away · set aside · put away

secured

locked

Fastened with a mechanism

guardedWary and restrained
protectedKept from harm
safeguardedKept from harm

vault · safe · fortified · shielded · watched · defended · sealed · enclosed · contained · confined

preserved

conserved

Kept from being used up

intactNot damaged or altered
unchangedNot modified at all
unalteredNot modified whatsoever

untouched · archived · fossilized · mummified · embalmed · pickled · canned · jarred · frozen · dried

honored

fulfilled

Completely satisfied, realized

observedPerceived through attention
upheldAffirmed on review
respectedHeld in high regard

obeyed · followed · abided by · stuck to · faithful · loyal · committed · devoted · steadfast

secret

concealed

Made invisible deliberately

hiddenKept out of sight
withheldKept from giving
suppressedForcibly held down

confidential · undisclosed · private · hushed · unspoken · unrevealed · classified · mum · quiet · under wraps

maintained

care

Attentive regard for others

servicingPerforming routine maintenance
tendingCaring for or inclining
preservationMaintaining something's condition

condition · repair · grooming · manicured · pristine · orderly · tidy · immaculate · shipshape · spick-and-span

Categories

past tensewent, was, were, had, got
past tense verbswent, got, had, did, said
past participlesbeen, done, gone, seen, taken
storedstored, warehoused, stashed, stowed, stockpiled
possessionowned, acquired, possessed, retained, held
redemptionredemption arc, redeemed, forgiven, saved, moral redemption

Opposites

retention vs. release

Gotten rid of

released · abandoned · thrown away · let go · given away

promise/commitment fulfillment

Damaged beyond function

violated · breached · dishonored · unkept · transgressed

maintenance vs. neglect

Not given proper attention

abandoned · unkept · unmaintained · ignored · forgotten

Phrases

kept upMaintained pace or level
kept goingMaintained forward motion
kept outPrevented from entering
kept an eye onObserved with sustained attention
kept onContinued without stopping
kept downHeld in check

Family

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Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G