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keep down. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
keep down, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
keep down in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
keep down you have here. The definition of the word
keep down will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
keep down, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
keep down (third-person singular simple present keeps down, present participle keeping down, simple past and past participle kept down)
- (transitive) To repress.
The dictatorial state keeps down its dissidents very efficiently.
- (transitive) To restrain or control (a sound).
We must keep the noise down, or the neighbours will complain.
Keep it down in there! Some of us are trying to sleep!
- (transitive) To cause not to increase or rise.
It is essential to keep the numbers down to avoid overcrowding.
- (transitive) To retain in the stomach without vomiting.
It is difficult to keep anything down when you have the flu.
- (intransitive) To lie low. To stay concealed by not standing up
You had better keep down or they will see you.
Usage notes
In all transitive senses the object may appear before or after the particle. If the object is a pronoun, then it must be before the particle.
Derived terms
Anagrams