# keep back

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/keep-back
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to stay at a distance

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to stay away from something or not go near it.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to hide information

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to not tell someone everything you know or to hide a secret.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. to restrain

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to stop someone or something from moving forward.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. school retention

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · American English

to make a student repeat a year of school because they are not ready to move up.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily used in North American educational contexts; British English speakers usually say 'held back'.

## Examples

- Please keep back from the edge of the platform.
- The police told the crowd to keep back while the firefighters worked to put out the blaze.
- The witness seemed to be keeping something back during the initial interview, though his reasons for withholding the details remained unclear.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: distinguish between the literal physical meaning and the figurative meaning of withholding information; the latter is a common synonym for 'hold back'.

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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.