Ask Difference

Continue vs. Keep — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 29, 2023
"Continue" means to persist in an action, while "Keep" can mean to maintain possession or to persist in a state. Both relate to persistence, but their usage can differ.
Continue vs. Keep — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Continue and Keep

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Key Differences

"Continue" typically denotes the action of carrying on with a particular task or activity. When someone says they'll "continue reading," they're expressing their intention to persist with the reading activity. On the other hand, "Keep" can imply retention or possession. If someone says they'll "keep the book," they mean they'll retain possession of it, not necessarily that they'll continue reading it.
Furthermore, "Continue" usually demands a specified action to follow. You continue "doing" something. It's an active verb requiring an object or an action. Conversely, "Keep" can be used in more varied contexts. One can "keep" an object, indicating possession, or "keep going," indicating persistence in action similar to "continue."
In some contexts, "Continue" and "Keep" can be used interchangeably. For instance, "keep walking" and "continue walking" both imply persistence in the action of walking. However, the nuance can be different. "Continue" often feels more formal or specific, while "keep" can be more colloquial or general.
To further clarify, while both words can indicate a form of persistence, "continue" usually suggests a progression or moving forward with an action or state, whereas "keep" often implies maintenance, possession, or staying in a current state. "I'll continue my studies" shows progression in education, while "I'll keep my notes" denotes possession and retention.
Lastly, it's essential to remember that language is fluid, and words can adopt multiple meanings based on context. Both "continue" and "keep" have various definitions and can be used in different scenarios. But by understanding their primary distinctions, one can employ them more effectively in conversation and writing.
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Comparison Chart

Primary Meaning

To persist in an action.
To maintain possession or persist in a state.

Requires an Object/Action?

Often requires an action (e.g., continue reading).
Can be used with or without a direct object.

Formality

Typically more formal.
Can be more colloquial.

Implication in Persistence

Suggests progression or moving forward.
Implies maintenance or staying in a current state.

Usage Variety

Less varied in usage.
More varied contexts (e.g., keep a secret, keep going).

Compare with Definitions

Continue

To persist in a particular action or process.
I will continue my research until I find an answer.

Keep

To retain possession of.
I decided to keep the old photographs.

Continue

To remain in a place or position.
Please continue in your seats until called.

Keep

To store or place something.
Can you keep this in the fridge for me?

Continue

To extend in a particular direction.
The trail continues up the mountain.

Keep

To prevent someone or something from doing a particular action.
Keep the dog from entering the kitchen.

Continue

To go on with a particular action or in a particular condition; persist
We continued until the job was finished.

Keep

A keep (from the Middle English kype) is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary.

Continue

To exist over a period; last
The meeting continued for another hour.

Keep

To retain possession of
Kept the change.
Must keep your composure.

Continue

To remain in the same state, capacity, or place
She continued as mayor for a second term.

Keep

To have as a supply
Keep spare parts in case of emergency.

Continue

To go on after an interruption; resume
The negotiations continued after a break for dinner.

Keep

To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support
"There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).

Continue

To extend in a given direction
The stream continues for another five miles before it reaches the lake.

Keep

To support (a mistress or lover) financially.

Continue

To carry on; persist in
The police will continue their investigation. I continued reading all afternoon.

Keep

To put customarily; store
Where do you keep your saw?.

Continue

To carry further in time, space, or development; extend
The builder will continue the road right through the swamp.

Keep

To supply with room and board for a charge
Keep boarders.

Continue

To cause to remain or last; retain or maintain
Are you continuing the prescription? The team continued its dominance over its opponents.

Keep

To raise
Keep chickens.

Continue

To carry on after an interruption; resume
After a break for lunch, we continued our hike.

Keep

To maintain for use or service
An urbanite who didn't keep a car.

Continue

(Law) To postpone or adjourn.

Keep

To manage, tend, or have charge of
Keep the shop while I'm away.

Continue

(transitive) To proceed with doing an activity; to prolong an activity.
Shall I continue speaking, or will you just interrupt me again?
Do you want me to continue to unload these?

Keep

To preserve (food).

Continue

(transitive) To make last; to prolong.

Keep

To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action
Tried to keep the patient calm.

Continue

(transitive) To retain someone or something in a given state, position, etc.

Keep

To maintain records or entries in
Keep a yearly diary.

Continue

To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.

Keep

To enter (data) in a book
Keep financial records.

Continue

(intransitive) To resume.
When will the concert continue?

Keep

To detain
Was kept after school.

Continue

To adjourn, prorogue, put off.
This meeting has been continued to the thirteenth of July.

Keep

To restrain
Kept the child away from the stove.
Kept the crowd back with barriers.

Continue

(poker slang) To make a continuation bet.

Keep

To prevent or deter
Tried to keep the ice from melting.

Continue

(video games) An option allowing the player to resume play after game over, when all lives have been lost, while retaining their progress.

Keep

To refrain from divulging
Keep a secret.

Continue

To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Here to continue, and build up hereA growing empire.
They continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.

Keep

To save; reserve
Keep extra money for emergencies.

Continue

To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue.

Keep

To adhere or conform to; follow
Keep late hours.

Continue

To be steadfast or constant in any course; to persevere; to abide; to endure; to persist; to keep up or maintain a particular condition, course, or series of actions; as, the army continued to advance.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.

Keep

To be faithful to; fulfill
Keep one's word.

Continue

To unite; to connect.
The use of the navel is to continue the infant unto the mother.

Keep

To celebrate; observe
Keep the Sabbath.

Continue

To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to cease not.
O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee.
You know how to make yourself happy by only continuing such a life as you have been long accustomed to lead.

Keep

To remain in a state or condition; stay
Keep in line.
Keep quiet.
Kept well.

Continue

To carry onward or extend; to prolong or produce; to add to or draw out in length.
A bridge of wond'rous length,From hell continued, reaching th' utmost orbof this frail world.

Keep

To continue to do
Keep on talking.
Keep guessing.

Continue

To retain; to suffer or cause to remain; as, the trustees were continued; also, to suffer to live.
And how shall we continue Claudio.

Keep

To remain fresh or unspoiled
The dessert won't keep.

Continue

Continue a certain state, condition, or activity;
Keep on working!
We continued to work into the night
Keep smiling
We went on working until well past midnight

Keep

To restrain oneself; hold oneself back
I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.

Continue

Continue with one's activities;
I know it's hard,
But there is no choice
Carry on--pretend we are not in the room

Keep

Care; charge
The child is in my keep for the day.

Continue

Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;
Preserve the peace in the family
Continue the family tradition
Carry on the old traditions

Keep

The means by which one is supported
Earn one's keep.

Continue

Move ahead; travel onward in time or space;
We proceeded towards Washington
She continued in the direction of the hills
We are moving ahead in time now

Keep

The stronghold of a castle.

Continue

Allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could

Keep

A jail.

Continue

Carry forward;
We continued our research into the cause of the illness

Keep

To continue in (a course or mode of action); to not intermit or fall from; to uphold or maintain.
To keep silence;
To keep possession

Continue

Continue after an interruption;
The demonstration continued after a break for lunch

Keep

To remain faithful to a given promise or word.
To keep one's word;
To keep one's promise

Continue

Continue in a place, position, or situation;
After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
Stay with me, please
Despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
She continued as deputy mayor for another year

Keep

(transitive) To hold the status of something.

Continue

Exist over a prolonged period of time;
The bad weather continued for two more weeks

Keep

To maintain possession of.
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.

Continue

To move forward without stopping.
The road continues for another ten miles.

Keep

To maintain the condition of; to preserve in a certain state.
I keep my specimens under glass to protect them.
The abundance of squirrels kept the dogs running for hours.

Continue

To resume after an interruption.
After the break, we'll continue our discussion.

Keep

(transitive) To record transactions, accounts, or events in.
I used to keep a diary.

Keep

(transitive) To enter (accounts, records, etc.) in a book.

Keep

(archaic) To remain in; to be confined to.

Keep

To restrain.
I keep my pet gerbil away from my brother.
Don't let me keep you; I know you have things to be doing.

Keep

(with from) To watch over, look after, guard, protect.
May the Lord keep you from harm.

Keep

To supply with necessities and financially support (a person).
He kept a mistress for over ten years.

Keep

(of living things) To raise; to care for.
He has been keeping orchids since retiring.

Keep

To refrain from freely disclosing (a secret).

Keep

To maintain (an establishment or institution); to conduct; to manage.

Keep

To have habitually in stock for sale.

Keep

(intransitive) To hold or be held in a state.

Keep

(obsolete) To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
She kept to her bed while the fever lasted.

Keep

To continue.
I keep taking the tablets, but to no avail.

Keep

To remain edible or otherwise usable.
Potatoes can keep if they are in a root cellar.
Latex paint won't keep indefinitely.

Keep

(copulative) To remain in a state.
The rabbit avoided detection by keeping still.
Keep calm! There's no need to panic.

Keep

(obsolete) To wait for, keep watch for.

Keep

To act as wicket-keeper.
Godfrey Evans kept for England for many years.

Keep

To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.

Keep

To be in session; to take place.
School keeps today.

Keep

(transitive) To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; to not swerve from or violate.

Keep

To visit (a place) often; to frequent.

Keep

To observe or celebrate (a holiday).
The feast of St. Stephen is kept on December 26.

Keep

(historical) The main tower of a castle or fortress, located within the castle walls.

Keep

The food or money required to keep someone alive and healthy; one's support, maintenance.
He works as a cobbler's apprentice for his keep.

Keep

(obsolete) The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge; notice.

Keep

The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case.
To be in good keep

Keep

(obsolete) That which is kept in charge; a charge.

Keep

(engineering) A cap for holding something, such as a journal box, in place.

Keep

To care; to desire.
I kepe not of armes for to yelp [boast].

Keep

To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain.
If we lose the field,We can not keep the town.
That I may know what keeps me here with you.
If we would weigh and keep in our minds what we are considering, that would instruct us.

Keep

To cause to remain in a given situation or condition; to maintain unchanged; to hold or preserve in any state or tenor.
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal.
Keep a stiff rein, and move but gently on.

Keep

To have in custody; to have in some place for preservation; to take charge of.
The crown of Stephanus, first king of Hungary, was always kept in the castle of Vicegrade.

Keep

To preserve from danger, harm, or loss; to guard.
Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee.

Keep

To preserve from discovery or publicity; not to communicate, reveal, or betray, as a secret.
Great are thy virtues . . . though kept from man.

Keep

To attend upon; to have the care of; to tend.
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it.
In her girlish age, she kept sheep on the moor.

Keep

To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc.; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book.

Keep

To maintain, as an establishment, institution, or the like; to conduct; to manage; as, to keep store.
Like a pedant that keeps a school.
Every one of them kept house by himself.

Keep

To supply with necessaries of life; to entertain; as, to keep boarders.

Keep

To have in one's service; to have and maintain, as an assistant, a servant, a mistress, a horse, etc.
I keep but three men and a boy.

Keep

To have habitually in stock for sale.

Keep

To continue in, as a course or mode of action; not to intermit or fall from; to hold to; to maintain; as, to keep silence; to keep one's word; to keep possession.
Both day and night did we keep company.
Within this portal as I kept my watch.

Keep

To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate; to practice or perform, as duty; not to neglect; to be faithful to.
I have kept the faith.
Him whom to love is to obey, and keepHis great command.

Keep

To confine one's self to; not to quit; to remain in; as, to keep one's house, room, bed, etc.; hence, to haunt; to frequent.
'Tis hallowed ground;Fairies, and fawns, and satyrs do it keep.

Keep

To observe duly, as a festival, etc.; to celebrate; to solemnize; as, to keep a feast.
I went with them to the house of God . . . with a multitude that kept holyday.

Keep

To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach.

Keep

To last; to endure; to remain unimpaired.
If the malt be not thoroughly dried, the ale it makes will not keep.

Keep

To reside for a time; to lodge; to dwell.
Knock at his study, where, they say, he keeps.

Keep

To take care; to be solicitous; to watch.
Keep that the lusts choke not the word of God that is in us.

Keep

To be in session; as, school keeps to-day.

Keep

The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge.
Pan, thou god of shepherds all,Which of our tender lambkins takest keep.

Keep

The state of being kept; hence, the resulting condition; case; as, to be in good keep.

Keep

The means or provisions by which one is kept; maintenance; support; as, the keep of a horse.
Grass equal to the keep of seven cows.
I performed some services to the college in return for my keep.

Keep

That which keeps or protects; a stronghold; a fortress; a castle; specifically, the strongest and securest part of a castle, often used as a place of residence by the lord of the castle, especially during a siege; the dungeon. See Illust. of Castle.
The prison strong,Within whose keep the captive knights were laid.
The lower chambers of those gloomy keeps.
I think . . . the keep, or principal part of a castle, was so called because the lord and his domestic circle kept, abode, or lived there.

Keep

That which is kept in charge; a charge.
Often he used of his keepA sacrifice to bring.

Keep

A cap for retaining anything, as a journal box, in place.

Keep

The financial means whereby one lives;
Each child was expected to pay for their keep
He applied to the state for support
He could no longer earn his own livelihood

Keep

The main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress

Keep

A cell in a jail or prison

Keep

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

Keep

Continue a certain state, condition, or activity;
Keep on working!
We continued to work into the night
Keep smiling
We went on working until well past midnight

Keep

Retain possession of;
Can I keep my old stuffed animals?
She kept her maiden name after she married

Keep

Prevent from doing something or being in a certain state;
We must prevent the cancer from spreading
His snoring kept me from falling asleep
Keep the child from eating the marbles

Keep

Conform one's action or practice to;
Keep appointments
She never keeps her promises
We kept to the original conditions of the contract

Keep

Observe correctly or closely;
The pianist kept time with the metronome
Keep count
I cannot keep track of all my employees

Keep

Look after; be the keeper of; have charge of;
He keeps the shop when I am gone

Keep

Maintain by writing regular records;
Keep a diary
Maintain a record
Keep notes

Keep

Supply with room and board;
He is keeping three women in the guest cottage
Keep boarders

Keep

Allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could

Keep

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

Keep

Fail to spoil or rot;
These potatoes keep for a long time

Keep

Celebrate, as of holidays or rites;
Keep the commandments
Celebrate Christmas
Observe Yom Kippur

Keep

Keep under control; keep in check;
Suppress a smile
Keep your temper
Keep your cool

Keep

Maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger;
May God keep you

Keep

Raise;
She keeps a few chickens in the yard
He keeps bees

Keep

Retain rights to;
Keep my job for me while I give birth
Keep my seat, please
Keep open the possibility of a merger

Keep

Store or keep customarily;
Where do you keep your gardening tools?

Keep

Have as a supply;
I always keep batteries in the freezer
Keep food for a week in the pantry
She keeps a sixpack and a week's worth of supplies in the refrigerator

Keep

Maintain for use and service;
I keep a car in the countryside
She keeps an apartment in Paris for her shopping trips

Keep

Hold and prevent from leaving;
The student was kept after school

Keep

Prevent (food) from rotting;
Preserved meats
Keep potatoes fresh

Keep

To continue or persist in a particular state or action.
Keep going, you're almost there!

Keep

To fulfill or honor a promise or commitment.
I'll keep my word and help you tomorrow.

Common Curiosities

Can I use "continue" and "keep" interchangeably?

In some contexts, yes (e.g., "keep walking" vs. "continue walking"), but not always.

If I say "keep the change," am I using "continue"?

No, in this context, "keep" means to retain possession.

Do "continue" and "keep" mean the same thing?

They can both relate to persistence, but "continue" often denotes action progression, while "keep" can imply possession or maintenance.

Can "keep" imply a form of persistence?

Yes, like in "keep going" or "keep trying."

What does "keep a secret" mean?

It means to not disclose or reveal the secret.

Does "continue" always need an action to follow?

Often, yes. One usually continues "doing" something.

Can I say "continue a secret"?

It's uncommon. Instead, you'd likely say "keep a secret" or "continue to hide a secret."

Does "continue" always suggest moving forward?

Often it does, but in some contexts, like "continue in your seat," it can mean to remain in a position.

Is "continue" more formal than "keep"?

Generally, "continue" can sound more formal, but context matters.

Is "continue your work" similar to "keep your work"?

"Continue your work" means to persist in working, while "keep your work" suggests retaining what you've produced.

Does "continue" imply possession?

No, "continue" primarily denotes persistence in action, not possession.

Does "keep" always need an object?

No, it can be used without a direct object, like "keep going."

In which situations is "continue" most commonly used?

Situations involving persistence in actions, processes, or movement.

Can "keep" indicate a place to store something?

Yes, like in "keep this in your pocket."

When would I use "keep" over "continue"?

When indicating possession, maintenance, or certain persistent actions like "keep quiet" or "keep safe."

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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