keep on

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keep on

vb (adverb)

1. to continue or persist in (doing something): keep on running.

2. (tr) to continue to wear

3. (tr) to continue to employ: the firm kept on only ten men.

4. (foll by: about) to persist in talking (about)

5. (foll by: at) to nag (a person)

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Verb

keep on - allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature; "We cannot continue several servants any longer"; "She retains a lawyer"; "The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff"; "Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on"; "We kept the work going as long as we could"; "She retained her composure"; "this garment retains its shape even after many washings"

retain, continue, keep

sustain, keep up, prolong - lengthen or extend in duration or space; "We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible"; "prolong the treatment of the patient"; "keep up the good work"

persist in, continue - do something repeatedly and showing no intention to stop; "We continued our research into the cause of the illness"; "The landlord persists in asking us to move"

keep

verb

1. To have and maintain in one's possession:

hold, hold back, keep back, reserve, retain, withhold.

2. To have for sale:

carry, stock.

3. To supply with the necessities of life:

maintain, provide for, support.

Idiom: take care of.

4. To have or put in a customary place:

store.

5. To remain fresh and unspoiled:

last.

6. To persevere in some condition, action, or belief:

maintain, retain, stay with.

7. To control, restrict, or arrest:

bit, brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain.

8. To hold oneself back:

abstain, forbear, hold off, refrain, withhold.

9. To reserve for the future:

lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.

10. To carry out the functions, requirements, or terms of:

discharge, do, execute, exercise, fulfill, implement, perform.

Idiom: live up to.

11. To act in conformity with:

abide by, adhere, carry out, comply, conform, follow, mind, obey, observe.

Idiom: toe the line.

12. To mark (a day or an event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing:

celebrate, commemorate, observe, solemnize.

phrasal verb
keep back

1. To have and maintain in one's possession:

hold, hold back, keep, reserve, retain, withhold.

2. To control, restrict, or arrest:

bit, brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain.

phrasal verb
keep off

To turn or drive away:

beat off, fend (off), parry, repel, repulse, ward off.

phrasal verb
keep on

To continue without halting despite difficulties or setbacks:

carry on, go on, hang on, persevere, persist.

Idioms: hang in there, keep going , keep it up.

phrasal verb
keep out

To keep from being admitted, included, or considered:

bar, count out, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, rule out, shut out.

phrasal verb
keep up

To keep in a condition of good repair, efficiency, or use:

maintain, preserve, sustain.

noun

1. The means needed to support life:

alimentation, alimony, bread, bread and butter, livelihood, living, maintenance, subsistence, support, sustenance, upkeep.

2. A place for the confinement of persons in lawful detention:

brig, house of correction, jail, penitentiary, prison.

Informal: lockup, pen.

Slang: big house, can, clink, cooler, coop, hoosegow, joint, jug, pokey, slammer, stir.

Chiefly Regional: calaboose.

Translations

يَسْتَمِر

fortsætte

anlassen fortfahren

continuar seguir

continuer durer

folytatja útját

halda áfram

continuare continuare a criticare continuare a mantenere [una carica]

fortsette holde fram med

devam etmekyapıp durmak

继续

keep

(kiːp) – past tense, past participle kept (kept) – verb

1. to have for a very long or indefinite period of time. He gave me the picture to keep.

2. not to give or throw away; to preserve. I kept the most interesting books; Can you keep a secret?

3. to (cause to) remain in a certain state or position. I keep this gun loaded; How do you keep cool in this heat?; Will you keep me informed of what happens?

4. to go on (performing or repeating a certain action). He kept walking.

5. to have in store. I always keep a tin of baked beans for emergencies.

6. to look after or care for. She keeps the garden beautifully; I think they keep hens.

7. to remain in good condition. That meat won't keep in this heat unless you put it in the fridge.

8. to make entries in (a diary, accounts etc). She keeps a diary to remind her of her appointments; He kept the accounts for the club.

9. to hold back or delay. Sorry to keep you.

10. to provide food, clothes, housing for (someone). He has a wife and child to keep.

11. to act in the way demanded by. She kept her promise.

12. to celebrate. to keep Christmas.

noun

food and lodging. She gives her mother money every week for her keep; Our cat really earns her keep – she kills all the mice in the house.

ˈkeeper noun

1. a person who looks after something, eg animals in a zoo. The lion has killed its keeper.

2. a goalkeeper.

ˈkeeping noun

care or charge. The money had been given into his keeping.

ˌkeep-ˈfit noun

a series or system of exercises, usually simple, intended to improve the physical condition of ordinary people, especially women. She's very keen on keep-fit but it doesn't do her much good; (also adjective) keep-fit exercises.

ˈkeepsake (-seik) noun

something given or taken to be kept in memory of the giver. She gave him a piece of her hair as a keepsake.

for keeps

permanently. You can have this necklace for keeps.

in keeping with

suited to. He has moved to a house more in keeping with his position as a headmaster.

keep away

to (cause to) remain at a distance. Keep away – it's dangerous!

keep back

1. not to (allow to) move forward. She kept the child back on the edge of the crowd; Every body keep back from the door!

2. not to tell or make known. I feel he's keeping the real story back for some reason.

3. not to give or pay out. Part of my allowance is kept back to pay for my meals; Will they keep it back every week?

keep one's distance

to stay quite far away. The deer did not trust us and kept their distance.

keep down

1. not to (allow to) rise up. Keep down – they're shooting at us!

2. to control or put a limit on. They are taking steps to keep down the rabbit population.

3. to digest without vomiting. He has eaten some food but he won't be able to keep it down.

keep one's end up

to perform one's part in something just as well as all the others who are involved.

keep from

to stop oneself from (doing something). I could hardly keep from hitting him.

keep going

to go on doing something despite difficulties.

keep hold of

not to let go of. Keep hold of those tickets!

keep house (for)

to do the cooking, housework etc (for). She keeps house for her brother.

keep in

1. not to allow to go or come out or outside. The teacher kept him in till he had finished the work.

2. to stay close to the side of a road etc.

keep in mind

to remember and take into consideration later.

keep it up

to carry on doing something at the same speed or as well as one is doing it at present. Your work is good – keep it up!

keep off

1. to stay away. There are notices round the bomb warning people to keep off; The rain kept off and we had sunshine for the wedding.

2. to prevent from getting to or on to (something). This umbrella isn't pretty, but it keeps off the rain.

keep on

to continue (doing something or moving). He just kept on writing; They kept on until they came to a petrol station.

keep oneself to oneself

to tell others very little about oneself, and not to be very friendly or sociable.

keep out

not to (allow to) enter. The notice at the building site said `Keep out!'; This coat keeps out the wind.

keep out of

not to become involved in. Do try to keep out of trouble!

keep time

(of a clock etc) to show the time accurately. Does this watch keep (good) time?

keep to

not to leave or go away from. Keep to this side of the park!; We kept to the roads we knew.

keep (something) to oneself

not to tell anyone (something). He kept his conclusions to himself.

keep up

1. to continue, or cause to remain, in operation. I enjoy our friendship and try to keep it up.

2. (often with with) to move fast enough not to be left behind (by). Even the children managed to keep up; Don't run – I can't keep up with you.

keep up with the Joneses (ˈdʒounziz)

to have everything one's neighbours have. She didn't need a new cooker – she just bought one to keep up with the Joneses.

keep watch

to have the task of staying alert and watching for danger.

References in periodicals archive ?

OVERALL VERDICT ON BECOMING ENERGY FIT: Simon Boghurst says: "It is a privilege to be part of this campaign and it's my desire that it will have a lasting impact on this generation and future ones." OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT: "Our biggest change was to our wasteful habits and we're going to keep on saving energy!" say the Boghursts.