Continue vs. Keep: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 3, 2023
"Continue" generally refers to the act of persisting in an activity or motion, whereas "Keep" has a broader meaning that can refer to retaining, maintaining, or persisting in an action or state.
Key Differences
"Continue" is often used to indicate the extension or prolongation of an activity, event, or process. When someone says, "continue writing," it implies that the act of writing should persist without interruption. In contrast, "Keep" can imply a broader set of actions including retaining something, like "keep the change," or maintaining a condition, as in "keep quiet."
Both words can often be used interchangeably when referring to the act of persisting, but their usage diverges in other contexts. For example, you can "continue walking," and also "keep walking," but only "keep" would be appropriate when saying "keep this secret." "Continue" implies an ongoing process, while "keep" may imply preservation or maintenance.
Grammatically, "Continue" is primarily used as a verb, and often requires an infinitive or gerund to complete its meaning, e.g., "continue to read." "Keep" can also function as a verb and, similar to "continue," can require additional words for clarification. However, "keep" is also sometimes used as a noun, as in "for keeps."
In summary, "Continue" is generally used to indicate the ongoing nature of an activity, while "Keep" can refer not only to continuation but also to the maintenance or retention of a condition, object, or state. These words, though related, have nuances that make them distinct in various contexts.
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Extension or prolongation of an activity
Retaining, maintaining or persisting
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Grammatical Role
Primarily a verb
Primarily a verb, sometimes a noun
Context
Often needs additional words
Can stand alone more often
Scope
Narrower
Broader
Action
Implies ongoing process
Implies maintenance or preservation
Continue and Keep Definitions
Continue
To extend
The road continues for another 10 miles.
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Keep
To retain
Keep the change.
Continue
To go on with a particular action or in a particular condition; persist
We continued until the job was finished.
Keep
To maintain
Keep your composure.
Continue
To exist over a period; last
The meeting continued for another hour.
Keep
To preserve
Keep this secret.
Continue
To remain in the same state, capacity, or place
She continued as mayor for a second term.
Keep
To retain possession of
Kept the change.
Must keep your composure.
Continue
To go on after an interruption; resume
The negotiations continued after a break for dinner.
Keep
To have as a supply
Keep spare parts in case of emergency.
Continue
To extend in a given direction
The stream continues for another five miles before it reaches the lake.
Keep
To provide (a family, for example) with maintenance and support
"There's little to earn and many to keep" (Charles Kingsley).
Continue
To carry on; persist in
The police will continue their investigation. I continued reading all afternoon.
Keep
To support (a mistress or lover) financially.
Continue
To carry further in time, space, or development; extend
The builder will continue the road right through the swamp.
Keep
To put customarily; store
Where do you keep your saw?.
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 supply with room and board for a charge
Keep boarders.
Continue
To carry on after an interruption; resume
After a break for lunch, we continued our hike.
Keep
To raise
Keep chickens.
Continue
(Law) To postpone or adjourn.
Keep
To maintain for use or service
An urbanite who didn't keep a car.
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 manage, tend, or have charge of
Keep the shop while I'm away.
Continue
(transitive) To make last; to prolong.
Keep
To preserve (food).
Continue
(transitive) To retain someone or something in a given state, position, etc.
Keep
To cause to continue in a state, condition, or course of action
Tried to keep the patient calm.
Continue
To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Keep
To maintain records or entries in
Keep a yearly diary.
Continue
(intransitive) To resume.
When will the concert continue?
Keep
To enter (data) in a book
Keep financial records.
Continue
To adjourn, prorogue, put off.
This meeting has been continued to the thirteenth of July.
Keep
To detain
Was kept after school.
Continue
(poker slang) To make a continuation bet.
Keep
To restrain
Kept the child away from the stove.
Kept the crowd back with barriers.
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 prevent or deter
Tried to keep the ice from melting.
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 refrain from divulging
Keep a secret.
Continue
To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue.
Keep
To save; reserve
Keep extra money for emergencies.
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 adhere or conform to; follow
Keep late hours.
Continue
To unite; to connect.
The use of the navel is to continue the infant unto the mother.
Keep
To be faithful to; fulfill
Keep one's word.
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 celebrate; observe
Keep the Sabbath.
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 remain in a state or condition; stay
Keep in line.
Keep quiet.
Kept well.
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 continue to do
Keep on talking.
Keep guessing.
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 remain fresh or unspoiled
The dessert won't keep.
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
To restrain oneself; hold oneself back
I couldn't keep from eavesdropping.
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
Care; charge
The child is in my keep for the day.
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 means by which one is supported
Earn one's keep.
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
The stronghold of a castle.
Continue
Carry forward;
We continued our research into the cause of the illness
Keep
A jail.
Continue
Continue after an interruption;
The demonstration continued after a break for lunch
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 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
To remain faithful to a given promise or word.
To keep one's word;
To keep one's promise
Continue
Exist over a prolonged period of time;
The bad weather continued for two more weeks
Keep
(transitive) To hold the status of something.
Continue
To persist
He decided to continue his studies.
Keep
To maintain possession of.
I keep a small stock of painkillers for emergencies.
Continue
To resume
Let's continue where we left off.
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 uphold
Continue the good work.
Keep
(transitive) To record transactions, accounts, or events in.
I used to keep a diary.
Continue
To endure
The tradition continues to this day.
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 persist
Keep going.
Keep
To confine
Keep him in the loop.
FAQs
Can 'continue' and 'keep' be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, especially when referring to persisting in an activity, but not always.
Is 'continue' always a verb?
Primarily, yes. It's most commonly used as a verb.
Does 'keep' imply holding something?
It can, as in "keep the door closed."
Is 'continue' more formal?
Not necessarily, though it is often used in more structured settings.
Does 'continue' always need additional words?
Often, yes. For example, "continue to read" or "continue writing."
What's the opposite of 'keep'?
Depending on context, it could be "discard," "stop," or "release."
Can 'keep' be a noun?
Yes, 'keep' can also function as a noun, as in "for keeps."
Can 'keep' imply preservation?
Yes, 'keep' can imply maintaining or preserving a condition or state.
Can 'keep' stand alone?
More often than 'continue,' as in "keep going."
Can 'continue' be used in formal writing?
Yes, it's appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.
Can 'continue' imply resumption?
Yes, as in "continue where we left off."
Is 'continue' the same as 'proceed'?
They are similar, but 'proceed' often implies starting from a particular point.
What does 'continue on' mean?
It emphasizes the ongoing nature of an activity, often redundant.
Does 'keep' always imply action?
Not necessarily. It can also imply a lack of action, as in "keep still."
Can 'keep' imply secrecy?
Yes, as in "keep it a secret."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
