phrasal verb · neutral

keep out

UK/kiːp aʊt/US/kip aʊt/KEEP·out

speakingtask2

to prevent someone or something from entering a place; to stay outside

Examples

Keep out — the roof is unstable.

They fenced the site to keep trespassers out.

We tried to keep damp out of the basement.

Band 8 sentence

During the renovation the council put up barriers to keep the public out of hazardous zones.

Collocations

  • keep out of (somewhere)
  • keep pests out
  • keep someone out

Word family

keep out phrasal verb (base)keeps out verb (3rd sg)keeping out gerund/present participlekept out past / past participle

Common mistakes

Keep out the building.Keep out of the building.

Keep the mosquitoes out of.Keep the mosquitoes out.

Say it for a higher band

5not allow6prevent entry7+keep out

Synonyms

bar

exclude

Easily confused

keep off

Please keep off the grass.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In keep …

Learn it with its set