{
    "term": "keep",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "keep",
            "heSheIt": "keeps"
        },
        "pastSimple": "kept",
        "pastParticiple": "kept",
        "ingForm": "keeping"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to continue to have something and not give it back or throw it away",
            "sensetop": "keep something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He kept all her letters."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She handed the waiter a hundred dollar bill and told him to **keep the change**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Always keep a backup of the file."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to put or store something in a particular place",
            "sensetop": "keep something + adv./prep.",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Keep your passport in a safe place."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Where do you keep the sugar?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The documents are all kept under lock and key."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to save something for somebody",
            "sensetop": "keep something for somebodykeep somebody something",
            "labels": "(especially British English)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Please keep a seat for me.",
                    "contextForm": "keep something for somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The man in the shop said he'd keep it for me until Friday."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please keep me a seat.",
                    "contextForm": "keep somebody something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to stay in a particular condition or position; to make somebody/something do this",
            "sensetop": "keep + adj.keep + adv./prep.keep somebody/something + adj.keep somebody/something + adv./prep.keep somethingkeep somebody/something doing something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We huddled together to **keep warm**.",
                    "contextForm": "keep + adj."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could not keep silent any longer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The notice said ‘Keep off *(= Do not walk on)* the grass’.",
                    "contextForm": "keep + adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep left along the wall."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The doctors worked miracles to **keep** him **alive**.",
                    "contextForm": "keep somebody/something + adj."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Winning the contract means they can now **keep** the factory **open**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She kept the children amused for hours."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep your PIN safe."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He kept his coat on.",
                    "contextForm": "keep somebody/something + adv./prep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't keep us in suspense—what happened next?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had trouble **keeping her balance**.",
                    "contextForm": "keep something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm very sorry to **keep you waiting**.",
                    "contextForm": "keep somebody/something doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm amazed that she keeps so cheerful."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep close to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She needed to keep busy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Sit down and keep calm!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Try to keep active in the cold weather."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We managed to keep dry by standing in a doorway."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to continue doing something; to do something repeatedly",
            "sensetop": "keep doing somethingkeep on doing something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Keep smiling!",
                    "contextForm": "keep doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Why does everyone **keep saying** that?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Things just **keep getting** worse."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't keep on interrupting me!",
                    "contextForm": "keep on doing something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to know something and not tell it to anyone",
            "sensetop": "keep a secretkeep something secret (from somebody)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Can you keep a secret?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She kept her past secret from us all."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to do what you have promised to do; to go where you have agreed to go",
            "sensetop": "keep something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She **kept her promise** to visit them."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mary **kept her word** and Henry was never informed."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He failed to **keep his appointment** at the clinic."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "to write down something as a record",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She **kept a diary** for over twenty years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We **keep a record** of all complaints that we receive."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep a note of where each item can be found."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I kept a weekly account of my workload and activities."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Separate accounts must be kept for each different business activity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Village clerks were unable to keep a proper record of deaths because they were so frequent."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "to own and care for animals",
            "sensetop": "keep something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to keep bees/goats/hens"
                },
                {
                    "text": "My grandmother kept chickens in her back yard."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Residents are not allowed to keep pets."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Farming"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "to own and manage a shop or restaurant",
            "sensetop": "keep something",
            "labels": "(especially British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Her father kept a grocer's shop."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 11,
            "definition": "to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to support somebody by paying for food, etc.",
            "sensetop": "keep somebody/yourself",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his family."
                },
                {
                    "text": "At the time many working men did not earn enough to keep a wife and children."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He kept himself by giving private lessons."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 12,
            "definition": "to delay somebody",
            "sensetop": "keep somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You're an hour late—what kept you?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I won't keep you long. I've just got a couple of quick questions."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "hold up"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 13,
            "definition": "used to ask or talk about somebody’s health",
            "sensetop": "+ adv./prep.",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**How is** your mother **keeping**?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're all keeping well."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 14,
            "definition": "to remain in good condition",
            "labels": "(informal, figurative)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Finish off the pie—it won't keep."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Milk and cream should keep quite well in a fridge."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘I'd love to hear about it, but I'm late already.’ ‘That's OK—**it'll keep** *(= I can tell you about it later)*.’"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["well"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 15,
            "definition": "to protect somebody from something",
            "sensetop": "keep somebodykeep somebody from something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "May the Lord bless you and keep you *(= used in prayers in the Christian Church)*.",
                    "contextForm": "keep somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "His only thought was to keep the boy from harm.",
                    "contextForm": "keep somebody from something"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 16,
            "definition": "to guard or protect the goal or wicket",
            "sensetop": "keep goal/wicket",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to make an effort to live normally when you are in a difficult situation or when you have experienced great pain and difficulty",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You just have to keep yourself busy and keep going."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used to encourage somebody to continue doing something",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Keep going, Sarah—you're nearly there."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be enough for somebody until they get what they are waiting for",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Have an apple to keep you going till dinner time."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kiːp/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/keep__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kiːps/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/keeps__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kept/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/kept__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkiːpɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/keeping__gb_3.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kiːp/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/keep__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kiːps/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/keeps__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/kept/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/kept__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkiːpɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ke/keep/keeping__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Old English cēpan ‘seize, take in’, also ‘care for, attend to’, of unknown origin."
}