KEEP OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does keep out mean? 

• KEEP OUT (verb)
  The verb KEEP OUT has 2 senses:

1. prevent from entering; shut out

2. remain outside

  Familiarity information: KEEP OUT used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KEEP OUT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prevent from entering; shut out

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

exclude; keep out; shut; shut out

Context example:

This policy excludes people who have a criminal record from entering the country

Hypernyms (to "keep out" is one way to...):

keep; prevent (stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "keep out"):

curse; excommunicate; unchurch (exclude from a church or a religious community)

lock out (prevent employees from working during a strike)

ostracise; ostracize (avoid speaking to or dealing with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remain outside

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "keep out" is one way to...):

remain; rest; stay (stay the same; remain in a certain state)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

I don't like Ned and his set, and wish you'd keep out of it.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He knew only that they did threaten evil of some sort, and that it was best for him to keep out of their reach.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

A voice replied, telling him to keep out of the moonlight or he would get some lead in him, and at the same time a bullet whistled close by his arm.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

You have as good as said that I am a married man—as a married man you will shun me, keep out of my way: just now you have refused to kiss me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

“She had no doubt in the world of its being a very fine day, if the clouds would only go off, and the sun keep out.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It will smell,” I said, “but it will keep in the heat and keep out the rain and snow.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The woman attempted to speak, but Womble turned upon her fiercely. "You keep out of this," he cried.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

"You guys keep out!" he screamed hoarsely.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You have only to do this, to show a regard for your word, and to keep out of debt in order to insure a happy and respected life.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)