for keeps

Idioms

For the winner to retain, as in You can't take the marbles back; we were playing for keeps . [Mid-1800s]
For an indefinitely long time, forever, as in She is leaving town for keeps .
In earnest, seriously, as in We're separating for keeps . [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I’d been friendly with the group before, but now we were bonded for keeps.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 25, 2025

"Penny Lane is in our ears and in our eyes - and this time it's for keeps."

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2023

He said this third coaching farewell is for keeps.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2022

Kevin Kiermaier is playing for keeps — and the Toronto Blue Jays may not be too keen on what he’s keeping.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2021

“They’re bound to go under now, but if you can’t play for keeps, you shouldn’t be in the business in the first piace. And Kowalski never could play for keeps. And Hoodhood and Associates can.”

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023