kiːp bæk
neutral
intermediate
- Base verb:
- keep
- Particle:
- back
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "keep back" mean?
- To stay at a distance; to not come closer
- To prevent someone from advancing
- To not tell someone something; to withhold information
- To restrain emotions
Examples
- Keep back! The building is about to collapse!
- The police kept the crowd back from the accident scene.
- I feel like she's keeping something back from me.
- He struggled to keep back his anger.
- The dam keeps back the water.
How to use it
Similar to 'hold back' but slightly more formal. 'Keep back!' as a command warns people to stay away. Common in crowd control and emotional contexts.
Word order
For preventing approach: separable ('keep the crowd back'). For withholding: separable ('keep information back'). As warning: intransitive.
Similar expressions
restrain
withhold
hold back
suppress
Opposites
release
reveal
advance
express
Related phrasal verbs
- keep up
To continue doing something at the same rate or level
- keep on
To continue doing something
- keep out
To prevent someone or something from entering
- keep away
To not go near someone or something
- keep off
To not walk on or touch something
- keep up with
To stay at the same level or pace as someone or something
Use it in a practice answer
Try "keep back" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.