5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A keen interest or emotion is one that is very intense. □ He had retained a keen interest in the progress of the work. ● keen|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ She remained keenly interested in international affairs. □ This is a keenly awaited project.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] If you are a keen supporter of a cause, movement, or idea, you support it enthusiastically. □ He's been a keen supporter of the Labour Party all his life.
7 ADJ [ADJ n] If you say that someone has a keen mind, you mean that they are very clever and aware of what is happening around them. □ They described him as a man of keen intellect. ● keen|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ They're keenly aware that whatever they decide will set a precedent.
8 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you have a keen eye or ear, you are able to notice things that are difficult to detect. □ …an amateur artist with a keen eye for detail. ● keen|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Charles listened keenly.
9 ADJ A keen fight or competition is one in which the competitors are all trying very hard to win, and it is not easy to predict who will win. □ There is expected to be a keen fight in the local elections. ● keen|ly ADV □ The contest should be very keenly fought.
10 ADJ Keen prices are low and competitive. [mainly BRIT ] □ The company negotiates very keen prices with their suppliers. ● keen|ly ADV [ADV -ed] □ The shops also offer a keenly priced curtain-making service.
11 PHRASE If you say that someone is mad keen on something, you are emphasizing that they are very enthusiastic about it. [BRIT , INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ So you're not mad keen on science then?
keep ◆◆◆ /kiː p/ (keeps , keeping , kept )
1 V‑LINK If someone keeps or is kept in a particular state, they remain in it. □ [V n adj/prep] The noise kept him awake. □ [V adj/prep] To keep warm they burnt wood in a rusty oil barrel. □ [V adj/prep] For several years I kept in touch with her.
2 VERB If you keep or you are kept in a particular position or place, you remain in it. □ [V adv/prep] Keep away from the doors while the train is moving. □ [V n with adv] He kept his head down, hiding his features. □ [V n prep] Doctors will keep her in hospital for at least another week.
3 VERB If you keep off something or keep away from it, you avoid it. If you keep out of something, you avoid getting involved in it. You can also say that you keep someone off , away from or out of something. □ [V prep/adv] I managed to stick to the diet and keep off sweet foods. □ [V n prep/adv] The best way to keep babies off sugar is to go back to the natural diet.
4 VERB If someone or something keeps you from a particular action, they prevent you from doing it. □ [V n + from ] Embarrassment has kept me from doing all sorts of things.
5 VERB If you try to keep from doing something, you try to stop yourself from doing it. □ [V + from ] She bit her lip to keep from crying.
6 VERB If you keep something from someone, you do not tell them about it. □ [V n + from ] She knew that Gabriel was keeping something from her.
7 VERB If you keep doing something, you do it repeatedly or continue to do it. □ [V v-ing] I keep forgetting it's December. □ [V v-ing] I turned back after a while, but he kept walking. ● PHRASAL VERB Keep on means the same as keep . □ [V P v-ing] Did he give up or keep on trying?
8 VERB Keep is used with some nouns to indicate that someone does something for a period of time or continues to do it. For example, if you keep a grip on something, you continue to hold or control it. □ [V n] Until last year, the regime kept a tight grip on the country. □ [V n] One of them would keep a look-out on the road behind to warn us of approaching vehicles.
9 VERB If you keep something, you continue to have it in your possession and do not throw it away, give it away, or sell it. □ [V n] Lathan had to choose between marrying her and keeping his job.
10 VERB If you keep something in a particular place, you always have it or store it in that place so that you can use it whenever you need it. □ [V n prep/adv] She kept her money under the mattress. □ [V n adj] To make it easier to contact us, keep this card handy.
11 VERB When you keep something such as a promise or an appointment, you do what you said you would do. □ [V n] I'm hoping you'll keep your promise to come for a long visit.
12 VERB If you keep a record of a series of events, you write down details of it so that they can be referred to later. □ [V n] Eleanor began to keep a diary.
13 VERB If you keep yourself or keep someone else, you support yourself or the other person by earning enough money to provide food, clothing, money, and other necessary things. □ [V n] She could just about afford to keep her five kids. □ [V pron-refl] I just cannot afford to keep myself. □ [V n + in ] That should earn her enough to keep her in cookies for a while.
14 N‑SING Someone's keep is the cost of food and other things that they need in their daily life. □ Ray will earn his keep on local farms while studying.
15 VERB If you keep animals, you own them and take care of them. □ [V n] I've brought you some eggs. We keep chickens.
16 VERB If someone or something keeps you, they delay you and make you late. □ [V n] 'What kept you?'—'I went in the wrong direction.'