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, 28 Dec. 2025

But plenty of everyday habits—like staying active, eating well, sleeping consistently, not smoking, and keeping up with checkups—can shift some of those risks in your favor. —Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2025

Crews worked to keep up, with plows visible on major routes, but the persistent sleet made conditions difficult, especially on busy roads. —Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025

Cold weather can hit fast, forcing your HVAC system to work hard every day to keep up with the demand of keeping your home comfortable. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 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)