Collocations for "keep"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "keep" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
keep
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- keep in [touch, contact]
- keep on [going, doing, coming, reading, trying]
- keep out of the [basement, garage, room]
- keep from [being, getting, doing]
- keeps me from [being]
- keep (it) away (from)
- you can keep it
- keep it in [mind, consideration]
- keep it to yourself
- keep it [safe, protected, secure]
- keep it simple
- try to keep up!
- [hard, not easy, trying] to keep up with
- keep up with the [news, competitors, other students]
- keep [it, the good work] up
- keep you [informed, updated, posted]
- keep a secret
- keep the change
- keep your [insurance, house, car]
- keep [records, contacts, paperwork]
- keep prices [high, low]
- [want, need, have] to keep
- keep with the [times, era]
- keep [animals, livestock]
- keep your [head, chin, pecker, spirits] up
- keep track of your [keys, phone, wallet, child]
- keep an eye on
- keeps (himself) to himself
- keep the peace
- keep quiet (about)
- keep telling myself (that)
- keep out
- keep out of trouble
- UK: keep your hand in
- a [stone, wooden] keep
- a [strong, burning, seized] keep
- the [main, inner, outer] keep
- the [tower, tower's, castle, castle's] keep
- climbed (up) to the top of the keep
- from the top of the keep
- need to (work to) earn your keep
- it is time that you earned your keep
- pay for your keep
- this time it is for keeps
- are playing for keeps
'keep' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
abreast
- active
- agenda
- alert
- amused
- annex
- arm
- as
- ash
- aside
- attempt
- back
- battle
- bay
- berth
- bin
- binder
- blanket
- bob
- bonfire
- bookmark
- brake
- brief
- brisk
- brush
- butt
- cage
- calendar
- canopy
- careful
- carefully
- carry-on
- casual
- cellar
- challenging
- chap
- characteristic
- check
- chin
- clean
- clear
- close
- closed
- clump
- cold
- collected
- comment
- communication
- company
- composed