Keeping means taking care of something or being responsible for it over time. When your teacher puts you in keeping of the class hamster for the weekend, you're responsible for feeding it and making sure it stays safe. When a museum has ancient artifacts in its keeping, those treasures are under the museum's care and protection.

The word suggests actively maintaining and protecting whatever is in your keeping. A lighthouse keeper doesn't just stand near the lighthouse; they maintain the light, watch for ships in danger, and keep everything working properly.

You might also hear keeping used to describe whether something fits or matches. When your actions are in keeping with your values, they align with what you believe is right. If someone tells a silly joke during a serious moment, you might say it's not in keeping with the mood. A costume that matches the historical period of a play is in keeping with the time period.

The phrase for keeps means permanently, not just borrowing. When you play marbles for keeps, the winner gets to keep them forever, not just for that round.