usage: keep in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., "keep clean"; "hold in place"; "She always held herself as a lady"; "The students keep me on my toes"
2. conserve, preserve, maintain, keep up, keep
usage: keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction; "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts"
3. sustain, keep, maintain, have, have got, hold
usage: supply with necessities and support; "She alone sustained her family"; "The money will sustain our good cause"; "There's little to earn and many to keep"
4. assert, asseverate, maintain, insist, take a firm stand
usage: state categorically
5. wield, exert, maintain, have, have got, hold
usage: have and exercise; "wield power and authority"
6. keep, maintain, have, have got, hold
usage: maintain for use and service; "I keep a car in the countryside"; "She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips"
7. keep, maintain, record, enter, put down
usage: maintain by writing regular records; "keep a diary"; "maintain a record"; "keep notes"
8. maintain, defend, affirm
usage: state or assert; "He maintained his innocence"
9. uphold, maintain, confirm, reassert
usage: support against an opponent; "The appellate court upheld the verdict"
10. observe, keep, maintain
usage: stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees"