Antonyms for keep back

Grammar : Verb

Spell : keep

Phonetic Transcription : kip

Definition of keep back

Origin : late Old English cepan "to seize, hold," also "to observe," from Proto-Germanic *kopijanan, but with no certain connection to other languages. It possibly is related to Old English capian "to look," from Proto-Germanic *kap- (cepan was used c.1000 to render Latin observare), which would make the basic sense "to keep an eye on."
The word prob. belongs primarily to the vulgar and non-literary stratum of the language; but it comes up suddenly into literary use c.1000, and that in many senses, indicating considerable previous development. [OED]
Sense of "preserve, maintain" is from mid-14c. Meaning "to maintain in proper order" is from 1550s; meaning "financially support and privately control" (usually in reference to mistresses) is from 1540s. Related: Kept; keeping.

As in reserve : verb keep, hold back
As in smother : verb extinguish; cover, hide
As in hold back : verb repress
As in bottle up : verb hold in check
As in check : verb hinder, restrain
As in contain : verb hold back, control
As in delay : verb cause stop in action
As in deny : verb disagree, renounce, decline
As in disallow : verb reject, prohibit
As in discourage : verb deter, dissuade; restrain
As in earmark : verb reserve
As in hold back/hold off : verb repress

Example sentences :

He had really not enough fortitude in him just then to tell her to keep back.
Extract from : « The Secret Agent » by Joseph Conrad

The hair sieve will keep back the other vegetable, the flavour of which only is wanted.
Extract from : « The Skilful Cook » by Mary Harrison

The captain could not keep back the speech which was at his tongue's end.
Extract from : « Fair Harbor » by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

For the future, if I live, I must keep back some—a little—to bring me to you.
Extract from : « End of the Tether » by Joseph Conrad

Paul could not keep back the tears when he saw how kind Uncle Peter was.
Extract from : « Winning His Way » by Charles Carleton Coffin

Hallo, keep back there, you are throwing us all into the river!
Extract from : « The Liberty Boys Running the Blockade » by Harry Moore

Her fists clenched and she bit her lip to keep back the tears.
Extract from : « Prairie Flowers » by James B. Hendryx

What you wish to keep back from my salary may remain for the master's—coffin-nails.
Extract from : « Debts of Honor » by Maurus Jkai

Just say, then; is the matter you keep back of the gravest importance, or is it not?'
Extract from : « A Pair of Blue Eyes » by Thomas Hardy

I gulped helplessly and for the life of me I could not keep back the tears.
Extract from : « The Black Wolf Pack » by Dan Beard

Synonyms for keep back

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019