Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

keep time

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.57 in modern English

Syllables: keep- -time
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To measure time.

verb

To indicate the time correctly (of a timepiece).

verb

To make any regular rhythmical movements at the same time with others.

verb

To control the beat or rhythm of a song played by a music group.

verb

To maintain a schedule set out in a timetable. (e.g. of a train)

Example Sentences

"How well does this old watch keep time?"
"He couldn't carry a tune in a wheelbarrow, but he keeps time like a damn machine."
"Isn't one of the conductor's main jobs to keep time?"
"We never had a chance even to attempt to keep time. An empty stock train from Stewarts Lane was given the road just ahead of us, and from Grosvenor Bridge to Herne Hill we had the signals against us all the way."

Etymology

From Middle English time kepen, kepen time, etc.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: time kepen

Inflected Forms

keeps time (present, singular) keeping time (participle, present) kept time (participle, past) kept time (past)

Phrases

keep good time

Frequently Paired Words

timekeeper timekeeping

Antonyms

lose time

Questions

What does keep time mean?: To measure time.
Where does keep time come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce keep time

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