Keep
Keep verb - To continue to have in one's possession or power.
Usage example: keep my secret and don't tell it to anyone
Protect is a synonym for keep in protection topic. In some cases you can use "Protect" instead a verb "Keep", when it comes to topics like tend, care for, avoid, maintain. popular alternative
Protect
Protect verb - To drive danger or attack away from.
Usage example: the mother bear was just trying to protect her cubs
Keep is a synonym for protect in care for topic. You can use "Keep" instead a verb "Protect", if it concerns topics such as take care of, avoid, maintain, watch over. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- This eventually gets deconstructed when she ultimately decides the only way to protect and keep Madoka safe is to become the Devil to her God.
Source: Pragmatic Hero - The heroes may come to rely on The Strategist for their ultimate success, and, as such, will have to protect and keep The Strategist as far away from the front lines as possible.
Source: The Strategist -
Jerkass Has a Point: Cade, in a conversation with Luke's Force ghost, points out that the Jedi always help the galaxy to protect it from evil, but they get screwed over every time the Sith manage to maintain a position of influence and they just keep coming back.
Source: Comic Book / Legacy
Cite this Source
Protect and Keep. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/keep/protect
Keep & Protect. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/keep/protect>.
Protect or Keep. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/keep/protect.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "keep" and "protect" have occurred on timeline