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Definition of keepingnext
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as in custody
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something put the house keys into a neighbor's secure keeping while they were on vacation

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as in shape
a state of being or fitness the estate hasn't been in good keeping since the owner suffered financial reverses

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

keeping

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verb

present participle of keep
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as in storing
to place somewhere for safekeeping or ready availability I keep extra toothbrushes for unexpected overnight guests

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as in supporting
to pay the living expenses of agreed to keep both of their children in off-campus housing until they graduated and found jobs

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of keeping
Noun
That’s the lowest since record-keeping began in 1941. John Meyer, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026 Driver aids include automatic high-beams, a backup camera, a blind-spot monitor, a cross-traffic alert, a driver-monitoring alert, a lane-departure warning, a lane-keeping assist, a parking aid, and stability-control functionality. John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Noah Wyle is keeping it casual in a blazer and jeans for The Daily Show in New York City on April 21. Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 The Fed seeks to restrain rising prices by keeping interest rates high, cooling borrowing and spending. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for keeping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keeping
Noun
  • After Navarro filed a complaint alleging the work had been wrongly kept from her, a Madrid judge, acting with the support of prosecutors, ordered Spain’s Ministry of Culture to take custody of it citing its potential importance to the country’s historical heritage.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • How Talley had access to the gun after being in the custody of officers and subject to a metal-detecting search by hospital personnel remains mysterious.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Holding a clutch with one or both hands also provides a polite, socially acceptable reason not to shake every hand within reach.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • After their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid — a title which had been the squad’s main objective — all that is left for Flick’s side now is to seemingly wait to be crowned champions of Spain for a second year in a row.
    Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The company’s adherence to reserve studies and balances supporting the HOASnapshot reviews would protect them from litigation should an HOA file suit over an unflattering report, Brady said.
    Amancai Biraben, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Improved comfort was linked with better adherence to shorter fasting protocols.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • While these tools remain limited, they have been explored deeply over the past few decades — not just for the sake of ultrafinitism, but because sorting out the shape of things is important for developing a finite physics.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The Keys sink into tunes by RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and Jessie Mae Hemphill, with second guitarist Kenny Brown and multi-instrumentalist Jimbo Mathus adding depth and shape.
    Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • By the time Josh Doan scored to put the Sabres up 2-0, Bruins fans were stunned into silence while Sabres fans were celebrating all around them.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The royals are also slated to attend a block party in Virginia celebrating the anniversary.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • His fund has posted disappointing returns and the high costs of retaining talent and building out necessary infrastructure made continuing the firm too difficult, Sandler wrote.
    Hema Parmar, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • These containers ditch the plastic in favor of silicone while retaining the same look and benefits of classic deli containers—namely, their stackability, one-size-fits-all lid, and lightweight feel.
    Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This was the 10th overall pick the Giants acquired after trading All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, fulfilling his trade request amid a contract dispute.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Cozy nights, redecorating, family affairs or inviting someone sweet into your personal space can feel especially fulfilling.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • For longer-lasting effects, consider grating the soap a few weeks in advance, storing it in a paper bag in a cool, dry, and ventilated place before using it.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Avoid storing them in an airtight container.
    Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Keeping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keeping. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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