Meanings
verbkeep one's distance (third-person singular simple present keeps one's distance, present participle keeping one's distance, simple past and past participle kept one's distance)
present singular third person keeps one's distance · participle present keeping one's distance · participle past kept one's distance · past kept one's distance
- intransitiveTo refrain from familiarity with somebody or something; to stay aloof.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
French garder ses distances
- garder ses distancesTranslations
German auf Distanz bleiben
- auf Distanz bleibenTranslations
Greek κρατάω τις αποστάσεις
- κρατάω τις αποστάσεις (kratáo tis apostáseis)Translations
Italian mantenere le distanze
- mantenere le distanzeTranslations
Spanish mantener distancia
- mantener distanciaTranslations
Swedish hålla sig på avstånd
- hålla sig på avståndTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
keep one's distance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20distance
MLA
“keep one's distance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20distance. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keep one's distance,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20distance.
Source: keep one's distance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.