What is the Opposite(Antonym) of “keep”?

The Opposite(Antonym) of “keep”

The antonyms of keep are give up, release, and let go. These antonyms convey the opposite meaning of holding onto something or retaining it.

Explore all Antonyms of “keep”

• release
• give up
• let go

Definitions and Examples of give up, release, let go

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

give up

To stop trying to do something; to abandon a task or goal.

Example

After several failed attempts, he decided to give up on his dream of becoming a professional athlete.

release

To set free or let go of something or someone; to allow something to be free.

Example

The zookeeper decided to release the injured bird back into the wild after nursing it back to health.

let go

To release one's grip on something or someone; to allow something to be free.

Example

She had to let go of her childhood home when her family moved to a new city.

Key Differences: give up vs release vs let go

• 1. Give up implies abandoning a task or goal, while keep implies holding onto something.
• 2. Release and let go both imply freeing something or someone from one's grasp, but release is more formal and often used in official contexts, while let go is more informal and personal.

Effective Usage of give up, release, let go

• 1. Goal-Setting: Use keep to express determination and commitment to achieving a goal, and give up to describe the decision to abandon a goal.
• 2. Relationships: Use let go or release to describe the process of moving on from a past relationship or emotional baggage.
• 3. Physical Objects: Use let go or release to describe the act of physically releasing something from one's grasp.

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Remember this!

The antonyms of keep are give up, release, and let go. Use give up to describe abandoning a task or goal, release to describe formally freeing something, and let go to describe informally freeing something or someone from one's grasp.