Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [keep awf, of]
- /kip ɔf, ɒf/
- /kiːp ɒf/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [keep awf, of]
- /kip ɔf, ɒf/
Definitions of keep off words
- verb with object keep off to hold or retain in one's possession; hold as one's own: If you like it, keep it. Keep the change. 1
- verb with object keep off to hold or have the use of for a period of time: You can keep it for the summer. 1
- verb with object keep off to hold in a given place; store: You can keep your things in here. 1
- verb with object keep off to maintain (some action), especially in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc.: to keep watch; to keep step. 1
- verb with object keep off to cause to continue in a given position, state, course, or action: to keep a light burning; to keep a child happy. 1
- verb with object keep off to maintain in condition or order, as by care and labor: He keeps his car in good condition. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of keep off
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English kepen, Old English cēpan to observe, heed, watch, await, take; perhaps akin to Old English gecōp proper, fitting, capian to look, Old Norse kōpa to stare
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Keep off
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
keep off popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
keep off usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for keep off
verb keep off
- beat back — to force to retreat; drive back
- beat off — to drive back; repel
- cover up — If you cover something or someone up, you put something over them in order to protect or hide them.
- deflect — If you deflect something that is moving, you make it go in a slightly different direction, for example by hitting or blocking it.
- disconfirm — to prove to be invalid.
Antonyms for keep off
verb keep off
- chisel in — to force oneself upon others without being asked or welcomed
- kibitz — to act as a kibitzer.
- kibitzing — to act as a kibitzer.
- muscle in — a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body.
- encroach — Intrude on (a person's territory or a thing considered to be a right).
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with k
- Words starting with ke
- Words starting with kee
- Words starting with keep
- Words starting with keepo
- Words starting with keepof
- Words starting with keepoff