Phrasal verb
keep back
Definitions
01to stay at a distance
phr.v. to stay away from something or not go near it.
phr.v. to maintain a physical distance from a specific area or object; often used as an imperative.
“The police told the crowd to keep back from the edge of the road.”
“Spectators were instructed to keep back from the barrier while the heavy machinery was being moved into the arena.”
Usage
Often used as an intransitive command in safety contexts.
Synonyms
02to hide information
phr.v. to not tell someone everything you know or to hide a secret.
phr.v. to withhold information or emotions rather than sharing them fully.
“I felt that he was keeping something back during our conversation.”
“The witness was accused of keeping back vital evidence that could have changed the outcome of the trial.”
Usage
Transitive; the object can be placed between 'keep' and 'back'.
03to restrain
phr.v. to stop someone or something from moving forward.
phr.v. to physically restrain or impede the progress of someone or something.
“The dam was built to keep back the floodwaters during the rainy season.”
“Security guards struggled to keep back the fans who were trying to reach the stage after the concert ended.”
04school retention
phr.v. to make a student repeat a year of school because they are not ready to move up.
phr.v. to require a student to repeat a grade or course of study due to insufficient academic progress.
“The teacher decided to keep him back a year so he could improve his reading.”
“After failing three core subjects, the administration had no choice but to keep the student back for another semester.”
American English
Teaching tip
This sense is primarily used in North American educational contexts; British English speakers usually say 'held back'.
Teaching tip
distinguish between the literal physical meaning and the figurative meaning of withholding information; the latter is a common synonym for 'hold back'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back
Separability
optional
Pattern
keep (+ object) + back