Keep out meaning
Keep out means to not go into a place. It can also mean to stop someone or something from coming into a place.
keep out
keep out · kept · keeping
The sign on the door said “Private. Keep out.”
Keep out meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Not go into a place
keep out
- The sign on the door said “Private. Keep out.”
- Please keep out of my room!
- Kids should keep out of the building site.
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2
Stop someone or something from coming into a place
keep something out
- Close the window to keep the flies out.
- This jacket keeps out the wind and rain.
- Deer kept eating our plants, so we built a fence to keep them out.
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3
Not get involved in something
keep out
- Keep out of this. It’s between me and Sam.
- Try to keep out of trouble at the new school.
- I kept out of their argument.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use keep out in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is keep out separable?
When you stay outside, keep out has no object; use of before the place: keep out of the kitchen. When you stop something entering, it is separable: keep the rain out, keep it out.
Keep out! on a sign is a strong order. Keep out of it means do not get involved, which is common when people argue.
Verb tenses for keep out
| Present | I keep out · she keeps out |
|---|---|
| Past | kept out |
| Present perfect | have kept out |
| -ing form | keeping out |
Common mistakes with keep out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Keep out my room!
Right: Keep out of my room!
Use keep out of before the place.
Wrong: This hat keeps out it.
Right: This hat keeps it out.
A pronoun goes between keep and out.
Wrong: I tried to keep out from the argument.
Right: I tried to keep out of the argument.
Use of, not from.
Synonyms and opposites of keep out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- stay outremain outside or away; also stay out late at night
- keep awaynot go near something
- lock outstop someone entering by locking the door
Opposite
- let inallow someone or something to come in
- come inenter a room or building
Keep out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1The sign on the fence says “Danger. ___.”
Keep out means do not enter.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Keep + thing + out of + place.
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3“This is family business. Keep out of it.” What does the speaker want?
Keep out of something means do not get involved.
More phrasal verbs with keep
All phrasal verbs with keep, by level, with an exercise
6 phrasal verbs start with keep. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Keep out FAQ
Questions people ask about keep out.
What does keep out mean on a sign?
It means do not enter, because the place is private or dangerous.
What is the difference between keep out and stay out?
They are close. Stay out also means stay outside the home late: She stayed out till 2. Keep out is more common on signs.
What does keep out of trouble mean?
It means avoid doing things that could cause problems for you.
Use keep out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.