1 A2 neutral
To stay low physically, especially to avoid being seen or hit.
"The soldiers kept down behind the wall until the shooting stopped."
inseparable
keep down
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To maintain a low position, limit an amount or cost, prevent a group from having power, or keep food in the stomach without vomiting.
In plain English
To stay low, to stop something from going up or getting bigger, or to be able to eat without being sick.
What does "keep down" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To prevent prices, costs, or levels from increasing.
"The new deal with suppliers helped the company keep its production costs down."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To oppress or prevent a person or group from achieving power, freedom, or advancement.
"For decades, the regime kept the rural population down through poverty and lack of education."
“
You've got to keep the people down.
— Roger Waters, 'Pigs (Three Different Ones)', Pink Floyd — 'Animals' album (1977)
separable
4 B1 idiomatic informal
(Of food or drink) to stay in the stomach without being vomited up.
"After the surgery she could barely keep any food down for several days."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To prevent something from rising or moving upward.
Actually means
To stay low, to stop something from going up or getting bigger, or to be able to eat without being sick.
Usage tip
Has a range of meanings: physical (stay low, as in a military context), economic (keep costs/prices down), political (oppressing a group), and digestive (keeping food down when ill). The economic and political senses are particularly common.
Words that pair with "keep down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
costs prices noise voice food weight head population
How to conjugate "keep down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
keep down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
keeps down
he/she/it
Past simple
kept down
yesterday
Past participle
kept down
have + pp
-ing form
keeping down
continuous
Hear "keep down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "keep down"
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Keep exploring
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