(~s, ~ing, kept)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
If someone ~s or is kept in a particular state, they remain in it.
The noise kept him awake...
To ~ warm they burnt wood in a rusty oil barrel...
For several years I kept in touch with her.
V-LINK: V n adj/prep, V adj/prep, V adj/prep
2.
If you ~ or you are kept in a particular position or place, you remain in it.
Keep away from the doors while the train is moving...
He kept his head down, hiding his features...
Doctors will ~ her in hospital for at least another week.
VERB: V adv/prep, V n with adv, V n prep
3.
If you ~ off something or ~ away from it, you avoid it. If you ~ out of something, you avoid getting involved in it. You can also say that you ~ someone off, away from or out of something.
I managed to stick to the diet and ~ off sweet foods...
The best way to ~ babies off sugar is to go back to the natural diet and eat lots of fresh fruit.
VERB: V prep/adv, V n prep/adv
4.
If someone or something ~s you from a particular action, they prevent you from doing it.
Embarrassment has kept me from doing all sorts of things...
= stop
VERB: V n from -ing
5.
If you try to ~ from doing something, you try to stop yourself from doing it.
She bit her lip to ~ from crying...
VERB: V from -ing
6.
If you ~ something from someone, you do not tell them about it.
She knew that Gabriel was ~ing something from her.
VERB: V n from n
7.
If you ~ doing something, you do it repeatedly or continue to do it.
I ~ forgetting it’s December...
I turned back after a while, but he kept walking...
VERB: V -ing, V -ing
•
Keep on means the same as ~ .
Did he give up or ~ on trying?...
PHRASAL VERB: V P -ing
8.
Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you ~ a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it.
Until last year, the regime kept a tight grip on the country...
One of them would ~ a look-out on the road behind to warn us of approaching vehicles...
VERB: V n, V n
9.
If you ~ something, you continue to have it in your possession and do not throw it away, give it away, or sell it.
Lathan had to choose between marrying her and ~ing his job.
VERB: V n
10.
If you ~ something in a particular place, you always have it or store it in that place so that you can use it whenever you need it.
She kept her money under the mattress...
To make it easier to contact us, ~ this card handy.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n adj
11.
When you ~ something such as a promise or an appointment, you do what you said you would do.
I’m hoping you’ll ~ your promise to come for a long visit...
VERB: V n
12.
If you ~ a record of a series of events, you write down details of it so that they can be referred to later.
Eleanor began to ~ a diary...
VERB: V n
13.
If you ~ yourself or ~ someone else, you support yourself or the other person by earning enough money to provide food, clothing, money, and other necessary things.
She could just about afford to ~ her five kids...
I just cannot afford to ~ myself...
The pay was enough to ~ him in whisky for a day or two.
VERB: V n, V pron-refl, V n in n
14.
Someone’s ~ is the cost of food and other things that they need in their daily life.
Ray will earn his ~ on local farms while studying...
N-SING: poss N
15.
If you ~ animals, you own them and take care of them.
I’ve brought you some eggs. We ~ chickens...
VERB: V n
16.
If someone or something ~s you, they delay you and make you late.
‘What kept you?’—‘I went in the wrong direction.’
VERB: V n
17.
If food ~s for a certain length of time, it stays fresh and suitable to eat for that time.
Whatever is left over may be put into the refrigerator, where it will ~ for 2-3 weeks.
VERB: V
18.
You can say or ask how someone is ~ing as a way of saying or asking whether they are well.
She hasn’t been ~ing too well lately...
VERB: only cont, V adv
19.
A ~ is the main tower of a medieval castle, in which people lived.
N-COUNT
20.
If you ~ at it, you continue doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop.
It may take a number of attempts, but it is worth ~ing at it...
PHRASE: V inflects
21.
If you ~ going, you continue moving along or doing something that you have started, even if you are tired and would prefer to stop.
She forced herself to ~ going...
PHRASE: ~ inflects
22.
If one thing is in ~ing with another, it is suitable in relation to that thing. If one thing is out of ~ing with another, it is not suitable in relation to that thing.
His office was in ~ing with his station and experience...
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR with cl, oft PHR with n
23.
If you ~ it up, you continue working or trying as hard as you have been in the past.
You’re doing a great job! Keep it up!
PHRASE: V inflects
24.
If you ~ something to yourself, you do not tell anyone else about it.
I have to tell someone. I can’t ~ it to myself...
PHRASE: V inflects
25.
If you ~ yourself to yourself or ~ to yourself, you stay on your own most of the time and do not mix socially with other people.
He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself...
? socialize
PHRASE: V inflects
26.
to ~ someone company: see company
to ~ a straight face: see face
to ~ your head: see head
to ~ pace: see pace
to ~ the peace: see peace
to ~ a secret: see secret
to ~ time: see time
to ~ track: see track