keep up

verb

kept up; keeping up; keeps up

transitive verb

: to persist or persevere in

kept up the good work

also : maintain, sustain

keep standards up

intransitive verb

1

: to keep adequately informed or up-to-date

keep up on international affairs

2

: to continue without interruption

rain kept up all night

3

: to maintain contact or relations with someone

keep up with old friends

Synonyms of keep up

• survive
• last
• prevail

Examples of keep up in a Sentence

let's hope that old air conditioner keeps up through this heat wave

kept the house up while the owners were gone

Recent Examples on the Web

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025

Experts say keeping up with fluids in colder months can help prevent fatigue and low energy since dehydration often goes unnoticed when people don’t feel as thirsty. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Some of the original kitchen equipment has found its way to the new location, while other elements have been upgraded to keep up with Miami’s relentless demand for baked goods. —Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025

Their frames are all lightweight, safe, and durable, with flexible hinges and materials that can keep up with busy and unpredictable little lives. —Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for keep up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

keep up

verb

1

: maintain sense 1

keep standards up

2

: to stay well informed about something

keep up on the news

3

: to continue without interruption

rain kept up all night

4

: to stay even with others (as in a race)