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: BobK)
   
   » 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'