: a game in which two or more players try to keep an object (such as a ball) from one or more other players

Examples of keep-away in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected, and after UConn came up with the ball, Demary made a shot from well behind the 3-point line. Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected, and after UConn came up with the ball, Demary made a shot from well behind the three-point line. Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer's pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away. CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026 With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away. Noah Trister, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026 The time-consuming field-goal drive translated into a game of keep-away from the Broncos, who managed only 7 yards of offense in the third quarter. Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026 Tampa extended the lead to two goals two and a half minutes into the second, as Brayden Point and Kucherov played keep-away from Bobrovsky before Kucherov found the back of the next with his 14th of the season. Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 28 Dec. 2025 Ragin Cajuns call a time out after multiple iterations of keep-away from the Longhorns who kept tipping the ball somehow into the hands of Louisiana. Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025 This shouldn’t be a political game of keep-away. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of keep-away was in 1960

Cite this Entry

“Keep-away.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep-away. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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