keep back


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Related to keep back: keep up

keep back

vb
1. (tr) to refuse to reveal or disclose
2. to prevent, be prevented, or refrain from advancing, entering, etc
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.keep back - keep under control; keep in check; "suppress a smile"; "Keep your temper"; "keep your cool"
restrain, hold back, keep
hold - keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath"
confine - prevent from leaving or from being removed
bottle up, suppress, inhibit - control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
curb, hold in, control, moderate, contain, check, hold - lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; "moderate your alcohol intake"; "hold your tongue"; "hold your temper"; "control your anger"
2.keep back - secure and keep for possible future use or application; "The landlord retained the security deposit"; "I reserve the right to disagree"
retain, hold back, hold
keep, hold on - retain possession of; "Can I keep my old stuffed animals?"; "She kept her maiden name after she married"
hold down - keep; "She manages to hold down two jobs"
3.keep back - hold back; refuse to hand over or share; "The father is withholding the allowance until the son cleans his room"
withhold
immobilise, immobilize, freeze, block - prohibit the conversion or use of (assets); "Blocked funds"; "Freeze the assets of this hostile government"
deny, refuse - refuse to let have; "She denies me every pleasure"; "he denies her her weekly allowance"
keep to oneself - withhold information; "I kept your little secret to myself all these years"
deny - refuse to grant, as of a petition or request; "The dean denied the students' request for more physics courses"; "the prisoners were denied the right to exercise for more than 2 hours a day"
reserve - hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency; "they held back their applause in anticipation"
immobilise, immobilize - hold as reserve or withdraw from circulation; of capital
deprive - keep from having, keeping, or obtaining
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

keep

verb
1. To have and maintain in one's possession:
hold, hold back, keep back, reserve, retain, withhold.
2. To have for sale:
carry, stock.
3. To supply with the necessities of life:
maintain, provide for, support.
Idiom: take care of.
4. To have or put in a customary place:
store.
5. To remain fresh and unspoiled:
last.
6. To persevere in some condition, action, or belief:
maintain, retain, stay with.
7. To control, restrict, or arrest:
bit, brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain.
8. To hold oneself back:
abstain, forbear, hold off, refrain, withhold.
9. To reserve for the future:
lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.
10. To carry out the functions, requirements, or terms of:
discharge, do, execute, exercise, fulfill, implement, perform.
Idiom: live up to.
11. To act in conformity with:
abide by, adhere, carry out, comply, conform, follow, mind, obey, observe.
Idiom: toe the line.
12. To mark (a day or an event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing:
celebrate, commemorate, observe, solemnize.
phrasal verb
keep back
1. To have and maintain in one's possession:
hold, hold back, keep, reserve, retain, withhold.
2. To control, restrict, or arrest:
bit, brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain.
phrasal verb
keep off
To turn or drive away:
beat off, fend (off), parry, repel, repulse, ward off.
phrasal verb
keep on
To continue without halting despite difficulties or setbacks:
carry on, go on, hang on, persevere, persist.
Idioms: hang in there, keep going , keep it up.
phrasal verb
keep out
To keep from being admitted, included, or considered:
bar, count out, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, rule out, shut out.
phrasal verb
keep up
To keep in a condition of good repair, efficiency, or use:
maintain, preserve, sustain.
noun
1. The means needed to support life:
alimentation, alimony, bread, bread and butter, livelihood, living, maintenance, subsistence, support, sustenance, upkeep.
2. A place for the confinement of persons in lawful detention:
brig, house of correction, jail, penitentiary, prison.
Informal: lockup, pen.
Slang: big house, can, clink, cooler, coop, hoosegow, joint, jug, pokey, slammer, stir.
Chiefly Regional: calaboose.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُبْعِد، يَبْتَعِديُخْفي، يَحْبِس، لا يَكْشِفيَدَّخِر، يَحْتَفِظ به، لا يَصْرِف
holde tilbagetilbageholde
távol álltávol tart
aî segja ekki alla sögunahalda eftirhalda sig fjarri/frá
dávať bokomdržať vzadu
alıkoymakgeri durmakgizlemeködememeksöylememek

keep

(kiːp) – past tense, past participle kept (kept) – verb
1. to have for a very long or indefinite period of time. He gave me the picture to keep.
2. not to give or throw away; to preserve. I kept the most interesting books; Can you keep a secret?
3. to (cause to) remain in a certain state or position. I keep this gun loaded; How do you keep cool in this heat?; Will you keep me informed of what happens?
4. to go on (performing or repeating a certain action). He kept walking.
5. to have in store. I always keep a tin of baked beans for emergencies.
6. to look after or care for. She keeps the garden beautifully; I think they keep hens.
7. to remain in good condition. That meat won't keep in this heat unless you put it in the fridge.
8. to make entries in (a diary, accounts etc). She keeps a diary to remind her of her appointments; He kept the accounts for the club.
9. to hold back or delay. Sorry to keep you.
10. to provide food, clothes, housing for (someone). He has a wife and child to keep.
11. to act in the way demanded by. She kept her promise.
12. to celebrate. to keep Christmas.
noun
food and lodging. She gives her mother money every week for her keep; Our cat really earns her keep – she kills all the mice in the house.
ˈkeeper noun
1. a person who looks after something, eg animals in a zoo. The lion has killed its keeper.
2. a goalkeeper.
ˈkeeping noun
care or charge. The money had been given into his keeping.
ˌkeep-ˈfit noun
a series or system of exercises, usually simple, intended to improve the physical condition of ordinary people, especially women. She's very keen on keep-fit but it doesn't do her much good; (also adjective) keep-fit exercises.
ˈkeepsake (-seik) noun
something given or taken to be kept in memory of the giver. She gave him a piece of her hair as a keepsake.
for keeps
permanently. You can have this necklace for keeps.
in keeping with
suited to. He has moved to a house more in keeping with his position as a headmaster.
keep away
to (cause to) remain at a distance. Keep away – it's dangerous!
keep back
1. not to (allow to) move forward. She kept the child back on the edge of the crowd; Every body keep back from the door!
2. not to tell or make known. I feel he's keeping the real story back for some reason.
3. not to give or pay out. Part of my allowance is kept back to pay for my meals; Will they keep it back every week?
keep one's distance
to stay quite far away. The deer did not trust us and kept their distance.
keep down
1. not to (allow to) rise up. Keep down – they're shooting at us!
2. to control or put a limit on. They are taking steps to keep down the rabbit population.
3. to digest without vomiting. He has eaten some food but he won't be able to keep it down.
keep one's end up
to perform one's part in something just as well as all the others who are involved.
keep from
to stop oneself from (doing something). I could hardly keep from hitting him.
keep going
to go on doing something despite difficulties.
keep hold of
not to let go of. Keep hold of those tickets!
keep house (for)
to do the cooking, housework etc (for). She keeps house for her brother.
keep in
1. not to allow to go or come out or outside. The teacher kept him in till he had finished the work.
2. to stay close to the side of a road etc.
keep in mind
to remember and take into consideration later.
keep it up
to carry on doing something at the same speed or as well as one is doing it at present. Your work is good – keep it up!
keep off
1. to stay away. There are notices round the bomb warning people to keep off; The rain kept off and we had sunshine for the wedding.
2. to prevent from getting to or on to (something). This umbrella isn't pretty, but it keeps off the rain.
keep on
to continue (doing something or moving). He just kept on writing; They kept on until they came to a petrol station.
keep oneself to oneself
to tell others very little about oneself, and not to be very friendly or sociable.
keep out
not to (allow to) enter. The notice at the building site said `Keep out!'; This coat keeps out the wind.
keep out of
not to become involved in. Do try to keep out of trouble!
keep time
(of a clock etc) to show the time accurately. Does this watch keep (good) time?
keep to
not to leave or go away from. Keep to this side of the park!; We kept to the roads we knew.
keep (something) to oneself
not to tell anyone (something). He kept his conclusions to himself.
keep up
1. to continue, or cause to remain, in operation. I enjoy our friendship and try to keep it up.
2. (often with with) to move fast enough not to be left behind (by). Even the children managed to keep up; Don't run – I can't keep up with you.
keep up with the Joneses (ˈdʒounziz)
to have everything one's neighbours have. She didn't need a new cooker – she just bought one to keep up with the Joneses.
keep watch
to have the task of staying alert and watching for danger.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
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References in classic literature ?
Some are so close and reserved, as they will not show their wares, but by a dark light; and seem always to keep back somewhat; and when they know within themselves, they speak of that they do not well know, would nevertheless seem to others, to know of that which they may not well speak.
View in context
They had nearly reached the first rock when they heard a rough voice cry out, "Keep back!"
View in context
Come, thou jolly substance, with thy shining face, keep back thy inspiration, but hold forth thy tempting rewards; thy shining, chinking heap; thy quickly convertible bank-bill, big with unseen riches; thy often-varying stock; the warm, the comfortable house; and, lastly, a fair portion of that bounteous mother, whose flowing breasts yield redundant sustenance for all her numerous offspring, did not some too greedily and wantonly drive their brethren from the teat.
View in context
"Howsomever, these gam'sters do certainly keep back their milk today.
View in context
'Keep back the dog, Bill!' cried Nancy, springing before the door, and closing it, as the Jew and his two pupils darted out in pursuit.
View in context
Raoul uttered this "perhaps" with so much love and despair in his voice that Christine could not keep back a sob.
View in context
"Whatever you do in the end, Dorothea, you should really keep back at present, and not volunteer any meddling with this Bulstrode business.
View in context
"The Prince," her husband answered coldly, "can keep back his information for a few minutes.
View in context
My heart goes out to Charlotte - whose father died from the disease - for trying to keep back the tears.
Moved by Charlotte; YOUR VOICE
"Keep back, or I'll brain you!" His whole body trembled violently.
MORNING SERIAL

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