# keeps

/ˈkips/ (US) · /kˈiːps/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/keeps
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to continue an action

verb · CEFR A1

to continue doing something or to do it many times.

For teachers: to continue a specific action or state; frequently functions as a catenative verb followed by a gerund.

- She keeps checking her phone because she is expecting an important call.
- The engine keeps making a rhythmic clicking sound, which suggests that one of the internal valves may be failing.

Usage: Followed by the -ing form of the verb.

### 2. to stay in a state

verb · CEFR A2

to stay in a particular place, condition, or position.

For teachers: to remain or cause to remain in a specified state, condition, or location.

- Please keep the door closed so the cat doesn't get out.
- The hikers were advised to keep quiet as they approached the clearing where the deer were known to gather at dusk.

### 3. to own or store

verb · CEFR A1

to have something and not give it back, or to store it in a place.

For teachers: to retain possession of something or to store it in a regular location for future use.

- You can keep the book for another week if you haven't finished it.
- The archivist keeps the most fragile manuscripts in a climate-controlled vault to prevent the ink from fading over time.

### 4. permanently

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

used in the phrase 'for keeps' to mean forever or permanently.

For teachers: used exclusively in the idiomatic prepositional phrase 'for keeps' to denote permanence.

- Are you giving me this camera for keeps, or do you want it back later?
- The two companies decided to merge for keeps, rather than forming a temporary partnership for a single project.

### 5. castle towers

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the strongest, central towers of old castles.

For teachers: the innermost stronghold or central tower of a medieval castle.

- The ancient keeps of the valley were built to protect the villagers from invaders.
- The ruins of the Norman keeps still dominate the skyline, serving as a reminder of the region's turbulent military history.

## Examples

- Are you giving me this book for keeps?
- When they signed the final contract, they knew the partnership was for keeps.
- In childhood games, playing for keeps meant that any items won during the match would not be returned to the original owner afterward.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.