What this suffix does
-kept evaluates how well something is maintained: well-kept, poorly-kept. "a well-kept secret".
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Suffix · forms adjectives
-kept
Judges how well something is maintained: well-kept (neat, well-maintained) versus poorly-kept (neglected).
In Spanish: cuidado / mantenido / conservadoIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Adverb + kept.
- well + keptwell-kept (neat, well-maintained)
- poorly + keptpoorly-kept (neglected)
- ill + keptill-kept (badly maintained, untidy)
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-kept
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -kept
In a phrase
- wellwell-keptTheir garden is always well-kept.
- poorlypoorly-keptThe poorly-kept trail was hard to follow.
- illill-keptThe house looked ill-kept, with paint peeling off the walls.
- meticulouslymeticulously-keptHer notes are meticulously-kept, every detail written down.
- badlybadly-keptIt's a badly-kept secret, everyone already knows.
Common mistakes
well-kept = new or recently renovated
well-kept = consistently and carefully maintained over time
"Well-kept" describes ongoing maintenance rather than newness. A well-kept house is not one that has just been renovated — it is one that has been consistently and carefully maintained so that it retains its quality over time. The "keeping" is an active, continuous process rather than a single event.
a well-kept secret = a widely-known secret
a well-kept secret = a secret that has been successfully maintained and not leaked
The phrase "well-kept secret" can occasionally be used ironically (something is "the best-kept secret in the industry" meaning it is not widely appreciated but should be — i.e., a hidden gem). But the primary meaning is positive: a well-kept secret is one that has been successfully kept — it has not leaked. Context clarifies which sense is in use.
A trick to remember it
well-kept = "well maintained", from "keep". Applies to physical things (a well-kept garden) and to information (a well-kept secret): in both cases, someone "kept" it well.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"a poorly-kept garden" is a garden that is...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -kept mean in English?
The suffix -kept judges how well something is maintained: well-kept (neat, well-maintained) versus poorly-kept (neglected). In Spanish it usually maps to cuidado / mantenido / conservado.
Can you give an example of a word with -kept?
"well" becomes "well-kept". It is a typical example of the -kept suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-bred
Describes how a person, animal, or talent was raised: well-bred (well-mannered) versus ill-bred (badly raised).
-mannered
Describes someone's manners or conduct: well-mannered (polite) versus ill-mannered (rude).
-natured
Describes someone's underlying character: good-natured (kind, easygoing) versus ill-natured (bad-tempered).
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