Home / Dictionary / Keeping

Keeping Common

Keeping has 5 different meanings across 1 category:

Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

conformity or harmony

"his behavior was not in keeping with the occasion"

2

the responsibility of a guardian or keeper

"he left his car in my keeping"

3

the act of retaining something

"She was surprised that he managed to keep his secret for so long without telling anyone."

4

conformity or harmony.

"After years of drifting apart, they found their friendship again by keeping in step with each other's dreams and fears."

In plain English: Keeping is the act of holding onto something or someone so you do not lose them.

"The building was famous for its unique architectural keeping, which protected the interior from harsh weather."

Usage: Use "keeping" as a noun to describe a state of conformity, harmony, or adherence to rules, often appearing in phrases like "in good keeping." It functions best when emphasizing the maintenance of order rather than possession or custody.

Verb
1

present participle of keep

"The cat spent its afternoon keeping warm by curling up in the sunbeam on the windowsill."

In plain English: To keep means to hold onto something so you do not lose it or give it away.

"She is keeping her promise to visit every Sunday."

Usage: Use "keeping" to describe an action that is currently ongoing or a state of being maintained in the present moment. It functions as the present participle of the verb keep and should not be confused with the noun form referring to custody or maintenance.

Example Sentences
"The building was famous for its unique architectural keeping, which protected the interior from harsh weather." noun
"She is keeping her promise to visit every Sunday." verb
"He is keeping his promise to return by Friday." verb
"She spent hours keeping her garden free of weeds." verb
"The old machine kept running for another hour despite the leak." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
conformity duty possession
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
hands withholding storage

Origin

Derived from Old English gecunnan (to know) via the past participle stem, keeping originally meant knowing or being acquainted with something. It evolved to signify the act of maintaining possession or custody over an object or person.

Rhyming Words
ing ging ying sing ling xing ting zing fing hing qing ving ring jing ping king ning oing ding ming
Compare
Keeping vs