keep off
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.
Cite this Entry
“Keep off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20off. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.
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