keep back
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle back
Meanings
Withhold information or feelings
Why “back”? Something is prevented from moving, growing, or being expressed. It can also remain available as a backup.
“She kept back the painful details.”
“He kept back the final cost from the team.”
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“She kept back the painful details.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
keep away
A contrast learners often mix up
Stay at a distance from someone or something
keep out
A contrast learners often mix up
Prevent someone or something from entering
bite back
Same back pattern: holding
Stop yourself from saying something that you really want to say
choke back
Same back pattern: holding
Suppress an emotion welling up
cut back
Same back pattern: holding
Reduce sharply, especially expenditure; Reduce the amount of something, especially spending
fall back
Same back pattern: holding
Move backwards quickly, often in retreat; Use something as a backup when other options fail; Move into a position behind others
fight back
Same back pattern: holding
Defend yourself against an attack; Try to suppress a feeling like tears or anger
hang back
Same back pattern: holding
Hesitate to take part
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “keep back” in Sink In
Drill “keep back” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
