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

• hold out
• hold up
• last
• prevail
• survive

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

The significant age gaps meant Justin often tried to keep up with Jordan and Rickey, who took their jobs as big brothers seriously. —Ale Russian, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024

Biden met earlier this week with the Congressional Black Caucus. —Riley Beggin Biden keeping up with Trump in new poll Biden and Trump are nearly tied in new poll results released Friday by NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

The athletes were better prepared to keep up with the demands of a soccer game, which includes sprinting and repeatedly changing direction while running. —Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

When evaporative demand rises, many plants are unable to keep up as their tissue begins to dry. —Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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)