# keep away

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/keep-away
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to stay at a distance from someone or something, or to make someone else stay at a distance.

For teachers: to maintain a physical or metaphorical distance from a person, place, or object; can be used intransitively or transitively.

## Examples

- Please keep away from the edge of the cliff.
- The signs warned visitors to keep away from the construction site for their own safety.
- Despite the lure of high returns, cautious investors decided to keep away from the volatile cryptocurrency market during the recent crash.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Keep away of the fire." but "Keep away from the fire." — the correct preposition to use after 'keep away' is 'from', not 'of'.

## Usage notes

- often followed by the preposition 'from' when an object is specified.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'stay away', which is almost identical but 'keep away' often implies a more active effort to maintain the distance or prevent contact.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.