# keep from

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to stop yourself or someone else from doing something, or to prevent something from happening.

For teachers: to restrain oneself or another from an action; to prevent a situation or state from occurring.

## Examples

- I could not keep from laughing at his joke.
- The heavy curtains help keep the heat from escaping during the cold winter nights.
- Despite the gravity of the situation, she could hardly keep from smiling when she saw his ridiculous costume.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I kept from to cry." but "I kept from crying." — the preposition 'from' must be followed by a gerund (-ing), not an infinitive.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun phrase.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'prevent from'; 'keep from' often implies a struggle with an internal impulse or a natural process.

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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.