word-vault

{ "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." }