to keep to
keep
ki:p
kip
to
tu:
too

Definition & Meaning of "keep to"in English

to keep to
01

to stay on a specific path, road, or route 

Transitive: to keep to a path
to keep to definition and meaning
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Movement verb
Regular
Inseparable
Particle
to
Base verb
keep
Present tense
keep to
3rd person singular
keeps to
Present participle
keeping to
Past simple
kept to
Past participle
kept to
Examples
When driving in the mountains, it's essential to keep to the marked trail. 
02

to follow through with what one has promised, planned, or committed to do 

Transitive: to keep to a plan
to keep to definition and meaning
Old use
Examples
She always keeps to her work schedule and never misses a deadline. 
03

to focus on and discuss only the specific subject that one is supposed to address 

Transitive: to keep to a subject
Examples
During the presentation, make sure to keep to the main topic and avoid going off on tangents. 
04

to remain in a particular place or position 

Transitive: to keep to a place or position
Examples
Despite the tempting beach, he preferred to keep to the shade of the beach umbrella. 
to  keep  to oneself
keep
ki:p
kip
to
<i>oneself</i>
wʌnsɛlf
vanself
[keep] {oneself} to {oneself}
to keep to oneself
01

to choose not to communicate or interact with other people 

to [keep] to {oneself} definition and meaning
Idiom
Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "keep to oneself" and when to use it?

The idiom "keep to oneself" has its origins in the notion of personal boundaries and privacy. It suggests the act of maintaining a reserved or introverted disposition and not sharing one's thoughts, feelings, or activities with others. This expression is used to highlight the preference for solitude or limited social interaction, reflecting a desire to maintain personal space or emotional distance.

Examples
She's a quiet person who tends to keep to herself, especially in a crowded room. 
to  keep   something  to oneself
keep
ki:p
kip
something
to
wʌnsɛlf
vanself
<i>oneself</i>
to keep something to oneself
01

to decide not to share a piece of information, an idea, or a feeling with others 

Collocation
Examples
He decided to keep his new job offer to himself until he made a decision. 
to  keep   somebody  to oneself
keep
ki:p
kip
somebody
to
wʌnsɛlf
vanself
<i>oneself</i>
to keep somebody to oneself
01

to limit someone's interactions with others, usually due to possessiveness or a desire for privacy 

Collocation
Examples
He was in love with her and didn't want to share her with anyone, so he kept her to himself and refused to introduce her to his friends or colleagues. 
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