keep back
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
Boston police, the Secret Service, and the hospital’s private security agents worked to keep back the throng.
—
Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The best-selling seat’s backrest is designed for lumbar support to keep back pain at bay.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 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
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Steven Levingston, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The best-selling seat’s backrest is designed for lumbar support to keep back pain at bay.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 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
Cite this Entry
“Keep back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20back. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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