15 English Phrasal Verbs With 'KEEP'

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15 phrasal verbs with 'KEEP'

Keep around

  1. Keep something near you
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: I KEEP a dictionary AROUND when I'm doing my homework.

Keep at

  1. Continue with something difficult
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She found the course hard but she KEPT AT it and completed it successfully.

Keep away

  1. Don't allow someone near something
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: Medicines should always be KEPT AWAY from children.

Keep back

  1. Maintain a safe distance
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The police told the crowd to KEEP BACK from the fire.

Keep down

  1. Not vomit
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The food was so horrible that I struggled to KEEP it DOWN.

Keep from

  1. Control yourself, refrain
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I couldn't KEEP FROM arguing with her.

Keep in

  1. Not allow someone out
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The teacher KEPT the students IN after school because they had misbehaved.

Keep in with

  1. Maintain good relations, stay on good terms with someone
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I like to KEEP IN WITH the school inspectors.

Keep off

  1. Not talk about
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She KEPT OFF the subject of her divorce.
  2. Not tread on something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: KEEP OFF the grass in the park, please.

Keep on

  1. Continue doing something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He KEPT ON trying and succeeded in the end.

Keep out

  1. Not allow someone to enter
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The police KEPT the demonstrators OUT of the building.

Keep to

  1. Stay within limits
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Please KEEP TO the path.

Keep up

  1. Not let someone go to bed
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: My neighbours KEPT me UP till after 4 am with their loud music last night.
  2. Maintain a continuous action, persist
    (Separable [optional] | International English | Contributed By: )
    » Example: First I phoned you and left a message that you should phone me; then you phoned and I was out, so you left a message; then...! How long can we KEEP this UP without ever speaking to each other directly?

Keep up at

  1. Continue, not quit
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Learning a language is difficult, but if you KEEP UP AT it, you'll succeed in the end.

Keep up with

  1. Move at the same rate
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He walks too fast and it's really hard to KEEP UP WITH him.
  2. Stay up to date
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: It's hard to KEEP UP WITH all the latest improvements and breakthroughs in technology nowadays.

Take our Exercise on 'KEEP'

Quiz for Verb: 'To KEEP'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Keep at' means...

'Keep up' means...

'Keep around' means...

'Keep up with' means...

'Keep down' means...

'Keep in' means...

'Keep up at' means...

'Keep up with' means...

'Keep off' means...

'Keep back' means...

 

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