Cool MateHold up vs Keep
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hold up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Keep
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: KeepMost common: Keep
| Hold up | Keep | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //həʊld ʌp//🇺🇸 //hoʊld ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/kiːp/","/kiːps/","/kept/","/ˈkiːpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kiːp/","/kiːps/","/kept/","/ˈkiːpɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To stop or delay something. | To have or hold something in your possession. |
| Example | Can you hold up for a moment? | Please keep your room clean. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hold up a sign, hold up traffic, hold up someone | well |
| Antonyms | speed up, continue | discard, release, abandon |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hold back' which means to restrain., Incorrectly using it as 'held up by' instead of 'held up due to'. | Confusing 'keep' with 'keep on' which suggests continuation., Using 'keep' without an object (e.g. saying 'I keep' instead of 'I keep it')., Incorrectly using 'kept' as a present tense. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversation; can be appropriate for situations involving delays or interruptions. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'keep' when you want to indicate retaining something. It is suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using 'keep' in overly formal writing; alternatives like 'retain' may be better. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hold up vs Keep
What's the difference between Hold up and Keep?
Hold up: To stop or delay something. Keep: To have or hold something in your possession.
Which is more formal: Hold up and Keep?
Keep is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Hold up and Keep?
Keep is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hold up: Can you hold up for a moment? Keep: Please keep your room clean.
Can I use Hold up and Keep interchangeably?
Not always. Hold up and Keep are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.