keep-away
noun
: a game in which two or more players try to keep an object (such as a ball) from one or more other players
Examples of keep-away in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Evergreen’s backline did the rest, with a clear second-half game plan to play keep-away from a Mullen team that was shut out despite dominating possession.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
In a best-case scenario, Bedard and McKenna would play keep-away from the defense and set each other up for a plethora of shots.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected, and after UConn came up with the ball, Demary made a shot from well behind the three-point line.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer's pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
The time-consuming field-goal drive translated into a game of keep-away from the Broncos, who managed only 7 yards of offense in the third quarter.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Tampa extended the lead to two goals two and a half minutes into the second, as Brayden Point and Kucherov played keep-away from Bobrovsky before Kucherov found the back of the next with his 14th of the season.
—Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 28 Dec. 2025
Ragin Cajuns call a time out after multiple iterations of keep-away from the Longhorns who kept tipping the ball somehow into the hands of Louisiana.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
In a best-case scenario, Bedard and McKenna would play keep-away from the defense and set each other up for a plethora of shots.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected, and after UConn came up with the ball, Demary made a shot from well behind the three-point line.
—Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer's pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.
—Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
The time-consuming field-goal drive translated into a game of keep-away from the Broncos, who managed only 7 yards of offense in the third quarter.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Tampa extended the lead to two goals two and a half minutes into the second, as Brayden Point and Kucherov played keep-away from Bobrovsky before Kucherov found the back of the next with his 14th of the season.
—Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 28 Dec. 2025
Ragin Cajuns call a time out after multiple iterations of keep-away from the Longhorns who kept tipping the ball somehow into the hands of Louisiana.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keep-away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep-away. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
