keep down

To make less noise or prevent a sound from becoming too loud.

• Please keep the noise down.
• We kept our voices down while the baby slept.
• Can you keep the music down tonight?

How to use it: keep something down (Please keep your voice down in the library.)

Similar words: quieten, lower, reduce

Opposites: raise

Common phrases: keep down the noise, keep down the volume, keep something down

To stop an amount, number, or level from increasing.

• We need to keep costs down.
• The medicine helped keep her temperature down.
• How can we keep down the number of accidents?

How to use it: keep something down (We share transport to keep our costs down.)

Similar words: limit, control, restrain

Opposites: increase, raise

Common phrases: keep down the costs, keep down food prices, keep something down

To hold food or drink in your stomach without bringing it back up through your mouth.

• I can't keep food down.
• He managed to keep down a little soup.
• Have you kept anything down since breakfast?

How to use it: keep something down (She could not keep even water down.)

Similar words: retain

Opposites: vomit, throw up

Common phrases: keep down some food, keep down any water, keep something down

To prevent people from gaining power, freedom, or the chance to improve their lives.

• The regime kept its opponents down.
• Unfair rules have kept these workers down for years.
• They used violence to keep down the opposition.

How to use it: keep someone down (The rulers used fear to keep the people down.)

Similar words: oppress, suppress, repress

Opposites: liberate, empower

Common phrases: keep down the opposition, keep down the poor, keep someone down

To stay close to the ground so that you cannot easily be seen or hit.

• Keep down! They might see us.
• We kept down behind the rocks.
• The soldiers were told to keep down until the shooting stopped.

How to use it: keep down behind something (Keep down behind the wall until they pass.)

Similar words: stay low, crouch down, duck

Opposites: stand up

Common phrases: keep down behind something, keep down and hide, keep down until dark