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."
inseparable
keep from
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To prevent someone or something from doing something, or to stop yourself from doing something.
In plain English
To stop something from happening, or to stop yourself from doing something you want to do.
What does "keep from" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
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."
inseparable
Usage tip
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').
Words that pair with "keep from"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
laughing crying falling leaving knowing truth secret
How to conjugate "keep from"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "keep from" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "keep from" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "keep from"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
hide from hold back from prevent from refrain from restrain from stop from
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