keep time

To move, clap, or tap regularly with the beat of music or other people’s movements.

• Clap your hands to keep time.
• He kept time with the music by tapping his foot.
• The dancers struggled to keep time with each other.

How to use it: keep time with something (The children kept time with the music.); keep time by doing something (She kept time by tapping her foot.)

Similar words: follow the beat

Common phrases: keep time, keep time together

If a clock or watch does this, it shows the correct time.

• Does your watch keep time?
• This old clock still keeps time well.
• My watch stopped keeping time accurately after it fell.

Common phrases: keep time well, keep time accurately, keep time badly

To give musicians a steady beat to follow while they play.

• The drummer keeps time for us.
• The conductor kept time with small movements of her hand.
• Who will keep time while the musicians practise?

How to use it: keep time for someone/something (The drummer keeps time for the band.)

Similar words: set the beat, beat time

Common phrases: keep time, keep time steadily

To measure how long an activity or event lasts.

• Please keep time for this race.
• She kept time with a stopwatch.
• An official keeps time during each round of the contest.

How to use it: keep time for something (Could you keep time for the next race?)

Similar words: time, measure time

Common phrases: keep time, keep time accurately

To arrive and leave at the times shown in a timetable.

• These trains rarely keep time.
• The morning bus kept time despite the snow.
• Can the new service keep time during rush hour?

Similar words: run on time, stay on schedule

Common phrases: keep time, keep time reliably