keep off
phrasal 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
The country’s internal security unit made an urgent request for people to keep off the roads to allow people to be transferred to hospitals.
—
Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 17 Sep. 2024
Until recently, he had been kept off the ice since his NHL debut on Oct. 10 with a hip injury he’s dealt with since training camp.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2024
Although plans for the building are still coming into focus, the Herald reported that there will be a space in it for the ICA’s permanent collection, the vast majority of which is largely kept off view.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2024
Birds can be kept off the porch away from furniture and plants by using bird deterrent methods that include physical, auditory, and visual deterrents.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for keep off 
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.
Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 17 Sep. 2024
Until recently, he had been kept off the ice since his NHL debut on Oct. 10 with a hip injury he’s dealt with since training camp.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2024
Although plans for the building are still coming into focus, the Herald reported that there will be a space in it for the ICA’s permanent collection, the vast majority of which is largely kept off view.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2024
Birds can be kept off the porch away from furniture and plants by using bird deterrent methods that include physical, auditory, and visual deterrents.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for keep off
Dictionary Entries Near keep off
Cite this Entry
“Keep off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20off. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share