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🛑 To block entry 🚫 To stay outside
to keep out

to keep out

31 1.0
To stay outside a place and not go in
  • phrasal verb
  • /kip aʊt/
translation icon : quedarse fuera
  • The sign clearly states to keep out of the construction area for safety reasons.
  • tried to keep out

No, because the Supreme Leader tries to keep himself out of issues of everyday politics supposedly.

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Examples

  • We hope to keep you out of it Mr. Purcell.

    Rare Birds (2001)

  • They were kept out of the social circles that men of power were part of.

  • A little thing but enough to keep him out of the program.

    Fly Me to the Moon (2024)

  • You keep out of this.

    Night Must Fall (1937)

  • "You should be glad you have us around to keep you out of trouble."

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "Look at it this way, it will keep you out of trouble."

    Fiction book (2000)

  • I have done my best to keep your name out of this.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • - Then keep out of my affairs and do as I say.

    Cleopatra (1963)

  • I don't care what you do with him, just keep him out of my sight.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • If I can't get my wall to keep people out of the country, you don't get to leave the country.

Synonyms

to avoid
vsto keep out
∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

focuses on remaining outside a place rather than avoiding actions generally
to stay away
vsto keep out
590 1.6

Keep a distance from people or things you want to avoid

is limited to remaining outside a specific place rather than general distancing
to stay away from
vsto keep out
384 2.3

Avoid going near people or places for safety

focuses on remaining outside a specific place rather than general avoidance
to keep off
vsto keep out
127 2.4

To stay away from a place, person, or thing

concerns staying outside a particular place rather than avoiding contact
to stay off
vsto keep out
57 2.6

Avoid walking on places like wet grass or a freshly painted floor

is about staying outside a place rather than just avoiding a surface
to steer clear of
vsto keep out
  • Informal
34 4.0

To stay away from people and things that may cause trouble or harm

does not require danger motive and covers simply staying outside a place

Antonyms

to enter
∞ 1.0

To go into a building, room, or area

Surface Forms

keep out infinitive
keeping out present participle
keeps out third person singular
kept out past
kept out past participle

Morphology

keep + out

The meaning 'to prevent someone from entering' is directly derivable from combining 'keep' (to prevent or restrain) with 'out' (not inside). This verb+particle construction is a common, literal compositional pattern found in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Keep out began as the simple words on signs and fences. The parts keep and out show the idea of telling someone to 'stay outside' and not go in, so it means 'to remain outside' or 'not enter'.