keep back

About 0.29 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To hold back; to refuse to give or share.
2. verb To stay back; to refrain from approaching.
3. verb To restrict or restrain.
4. verb To prevent (a pupil) from advancing in a course.

Similar words

hold back withhold restrain retain keep hold reserve keep to oneself spare detain

Word family

keeping back keeps back kept back