keep in

To make someone or something stay inside a place or within a limit.

• Please keep the cat in tonight.
• The rain kept us in all afternoon.
• This fence keeps the sheep in the field.

How to use it: keep someone/something in something (Keep the dog in the garden.)

Similar words: keep inside, confine

Opposites: let out

Common phrases: keep someone in, keep something in, keep in bounds

To make a student stay at school after lessons as a punishment.

• Our teacher kept us in.
• Will you keep me in after school?
• They were kept in for throwing paper during class.

How to use it: keep someone in for something (The teacher kept us in for talking.)

Similar words: give detention to

Common phrases: keep someone in, keep pupils in, keep children in

For a fire to continue burning without going out.

• Will the fire keep in overnight?
• The kitchen fire kept in until morning.
• With enough coal, this fire should keep in.

Similar words: stay alight, keep burning

Opposites: go out

Common phrases: fire keep in, keep in overnight

To make a fire continue burning without going out.

• We kept the fire in overnight.
• Add more coal to keep it in.
• She used dry wood to keep the kitchen fire in.

How to use it: keep a fire in (A little coal will keep the fire in.)

Similar words: keep alight, keep burning

Opposites: extinguish

Common phrases: keep something in, keep fire in