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keep in

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To stop someone from going out, or to not lose touch with someone.

Literal meaning: To cause something or someone to remain inside.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

(School context) To make a student stay inside, usually as a punishment, instead of going outside.

"The teacher kept three students in at lunchtime for not finishing their homework."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

To maintain a fire or flame so it does not go out.

"Put another log on to keep the fire in overnight."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

(British English) To maintain a friendly or positive relationship with someone.

"She made sure to keep in with her manager, knowing it would help her career."

Grammar: inseparable
4 A2 informal

To stay indoors rather than going out.

"With the storm getting worse, they decided to keep in for the rest of the evening."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Has several distinct uses: (1) school context — a teacher keeps a pupil in (detention); (2) fire — to keep a fire burning so it doesn't go out; (3) British English 'keep in' with someone means to maintain a friendly relationship with them; (4) to retain something inside.

Commonly used with

pupil student fire contact touch stomach breath

Forms

Base
keep in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
keeps in
he/she/it
Past simple
kept in
yesterday
Past participle
kept in
have + pp
-ing form
keeping in
continuous

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Synonyms

detain retain confine maintain contact keep burning hold in

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