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keep from

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To stop something from happening, or to stop yourself from doing something you want to do.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To prevent someone or something from doing something or reaching somewhere.

"They built a fence to keep the deer from eating the vegetables in the garden."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral

To stop yourself from doing something, often something emotional or instinctive.

"I could barely keep from laughing when he walked in wearing that ridiculous hat."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 neutral

To conceal information or a secret from someone.

"They kept the diagnosis from her for weeks, not knowing how she would react."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Used in two main ways: (1) to prevent someone else from doing something ('keep him from leaving') and (2) reflexively to control oneself ('I couldn't keep from laughing'). Also used to mean withholding information from someone ('keep it from her').

Commonly used with

laughing crying falling leaving knowing truth secret

Forms

Base
keep from
I/you/we/they
3rd person
keeps from
he/she/it
Past simple
kept from
yesterday
Past participle
kept from
have + pp
-ing form
keeping from
continuous

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Synonyms

prevent from stop from refrain from hold back from restrain from hide from

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