keep back
phrasal verb
kept back; keeping back; keeps back
: to not go near something
The police asked the spectators to keep back.
The guide told us to keep back from the edge of the cliff.
Examples of keep back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The best-selling seat’s backrest is designed for lumbar support to keep back pain at bay.
—
Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
Some Republican lawmakers are warning the Trump administration that keeping back records, including possible footage of people who visited Epstein’s properties, would be a big mistake.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2025
In anticipation of a third-down rush, the Eagles kept back seven blockers in max protection against what ended up being only five rushers.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The release on Saturday has looked different from previous releases and was done more orderly with the crowd kept back at a distance.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 1 Feb. 2025
He’s kept back from the throne by Linkin Park, whose comeback set From Zero is still running the show on the list of the bestselling collections in those styles.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
The cordoning blocked the entrance from 79th Drive, keeping back people Connie and Keith Rohrman hoped would spend cash on their two-day yard sale at their West Mitchell Drive home.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Nov. 2024
Police had to step in, some officers on horseback, to keep back the crowd of several dozen, some wielding shovels and poles.
—Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2024
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Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
Some Republican lawmakers are warning the Trump administration that keeping back records, including possible footage of people who visited Epstein’s properties, would be a big mistake.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2025
In anticipation of a third-down rush, the Eagles kept back seven blockers in max protection against what ended up being only five rushers.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
The release on Saturday has looked different from previous releases and was done more orderly with the crowd kept back at a distance.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 1 Feb. 2025
He’s kept back from the throne by Linkin Park, whose comeback set From Zero is still running the show on the list of the bestselling collections in those styles.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
The cordoning blocked the entrance from 79th Drive, keeping back people Connie and Keith Rohrman hoped would spend cash on their two-day yard sale at their West Mitchell Drive home.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Nov. 2024
Police had to step in, some officers on horseback, to keep back the crowd of several dozen, some wielding shovels and poles.
—Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Keep back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20back. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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