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.
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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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba 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.
