Antonyms for keep down

Grammar : Verb

Spell : keep

Phonetic Transcription : kip

Definition of keep down

Origin : late Old English cepan "to seize, hold," also "to observe," from Proto-Germanic *kopijanan, but with no certain connection to other languages. It possibly is related to Old English capian "to look," from Proto-Germanic *kap- (cepan was used c.1000 to render Latin observare), which would make the basic sense "to keep an eye on."
The word prob. belongs primarily to the vulgar and non-literary stratum of the language; but it comes up suddenly into literary use c.1000, and that in many senses, indicating considerable previous development. [OED]
Sense of "preserve, maintain" is from mid-14c. Meaning "to maintain in proper order" is from 1550s; meaning "financially support and privately control" (usually in reference to mistresses) is from 1540s. Related: Kept; keeping.

As in mute : verb muffle, tone down sound
As in oppress : verb depress, subdue
As in restrain : verb keep under control; hold back
As in silence : verb make or be quiet
As in quieten : verb silence
As in shush : verb silence

Example sentences :

Meantime she tried to keep down her anxiety by keeping up her anger.
Extract from : « The Eternal City » by Hall Caine

But I'm fightin' hard to keep down my old salt-water temper.
Extract from : « Keziah Coffin » by Joseph C. Lincoln

Before sweeping the shop dampen the floor to keep down the dust.
Extract from : « The Automobile Storage Battery » by O. A. Witte

He paused, trying to keep down his rising anger, and failed.
Extract from : « Almayer's Folly » by Joseph Conrad

Ross found it hard to keep down his temper at this discourtesy.
Extract from : « The Boy with the U. S. Weather Men » by Francis William Rolt-Wheeler

One would expect the giants of the deep to keep down their population.
Extract from : « Angling Sketches » by Andrew Lang

All the pumps in the ship would not keep down such a leak as this.
Extract from : « A Final Reckoning » by G. A. Henty

The floor of the plant had recently been oiled to keep down dust.
Extract from : « The Ambulance Made Two Trips » by William Fitzgerald Jenkins

Those unemployed are the men who keep down the wages of the workers.
Extract from : « The Sequel » by George A. Taylor

We can keep down behind the shelter of the pile, till we have got most of them out.
Extract from : « On the Irrawaddy » by G. A. Henty

Synonyms for keep down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019