keep off

verb

kept off; keeping off; keeps off
1
: to stop or prevent (someone or something) from being on (something)
Keep off the grass.
Please keep the dog off the sofa.
2
keep (weight) off : to continue to weigh a lower amount than one formerly weighed : to not regain weight that one has lost
Losing weight is not as hard as keeping it off.
3
: to not talk about (something)
I think we'd better keep off the subject of the war.
4
: to prevent (someone) from talking about (something)
We tried to keep them off (the subject of) the war.

Examples of keep off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aside from a solo home run by Jordan Walker, the Cardinals were kept off the board. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026 Hutson did not flinch and impacted the game both offensively and defensively, despite being kept off the scoresheet. Arpon Basu, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026 The conflict has been largely kept off the front pages by the war in Iran. Rabia Akhtar, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026 And which of their own impending free agents might the Broncos keep off the market in the coming days? Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep off

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Keep off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/keep%20off. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster