well-kept

/ˌwel ˈkept/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌwel ˈkept/ (ame, ipa)

well-kept — adjective

1. looking clean and orderly because someone cares for it regularly

1.形容詞B2
釋義

looking clean and orderly because someone cares for it regularly

例句

The well-kept garden behind the clinic has roses in every corner.

collocation: well-kept garden / well-kept lawn

Even after thirty years, the school still looks well-kept and welcoming.

pattern: look + well-kept

同義詞
  • tidy

    focuses more on order and neat appearance than on long-term care

  • well-maintained

    closer for buildings and places, with a slightly more formal tone

  • groomed

    used mainly for hair, animals, or personal appearance rather than places

反義詞
  • neglected

    not properly cared for

  • run-down

    in poor condition because repairs or care have been ignored

用法筆記

Common before nouns for houses, gardens, paths, hair, and clothes. It suggests ongoing care and maintenance, not just a room being tidy at one moment.

常見錯誤

❌The old hotel is tidy because workers repair it every year.
✅The old hotel is well-kept because workers repair it every year.
💡'tidy' focuses on neat order, while 'well-kept' also suggests careful maintenance over time.

2. used about information that has been hidden so successfully that almost nobody e

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used about information that has been hidden so successfully that almost nobody else knows it

例句

The singer's wedding plans remained a well-kept secret until Friday morning.

pattern: remain a well-kept secret

For months, the new logo was a well-kept secret inside the company.

collocation: a well-kept secret

同義詞
  • secret

    broader and more neutral; it does not itself suggest how successfully something was hidden

  • confidential

    more formal, often used for official or professional information

  • under wraps

    informal phrase that stresses keeping news from the public

反義詞
  • public

    openly known by everyone

  • open

    not hidden from other people

文法句型

a well-kept secret

remain / stay a well-kept secret

用法筆記

Almost always used with the noun 'secret'. It stresses that people have managed to keep the information from becoming public, not just that the information is private.

常見錯誤

❌The ending was a kept secret.
✅The ending was a well-kept secret.
💡This expression normally includes 'well-' to show the secret has been successfully hidden.