keep (someone or something) back
idiom
1
: to not allow (someone) to go near something
The police kept the spectators back.
2
US
: to not allow (a student) to advance to the next grade level
—usually used as (be) kept back
Students who fail the exam may be kept back a year.
3
British
: to require (a student) to stay at school after classes have ended
She was kept back for talking in class.
4
: to not allow (something) to appear or be known
He struggled to keep back his tears.
The government kept back some crucial information from the media.
Examples of keep (someone or something) back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gonsolin has shown an ability post-surgery to keep something back for big spots.
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Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 12 May 2025
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Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keep (someone or something) back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20%28someone%20or%20something%29%20back. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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