keep out
phrasal verb
kept out; keeping out; keeps out
1
: to not enter a place
The sign on the door said "Keep out!"
2
: to stop or prevent (someone or something) from entering a place
The curtains help keep out the drafts.
Examples of keep out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For now, the babies are being kept out of public view in the zoo’s Reptile and Amphibian House, under the watchful eye of the animal care team.
—
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Tariffs would keep out goods transshipped from China, but the duty-free handling that began with the North American Free Trade Agreement three decades ago would be preserved.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
The Blues came within inches of scoring twice — the first from a Faulk shot that rang off the post, and the second off a wraparound that Lankinen barely kept out.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
This keeps out bugs for you and eliminates reflections for the birds.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep out
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Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Tariffs would keep out goods transshipped from China, but the duty-free handling that began with the North American Free Trade Agreement three decades ago would be preserved.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
The Blues came within inches of scoring twice — the first from a Faulk shot that rang off the post, and the second off a wraparound that Lankinen barely kept out.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
This keeps out bugs for you and eliminates reflections for the birds.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep out
Cite this Entry
“Keep out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20out. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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