keep up
phrasal verb·7 senses·particle up
Meanings
Continue at the same level or rate
Why “up”? You stay at the needed level, pace, or state.
“Keep up the good work.”
“Keep up this pace until the end.”
Move at the same speed as someone else
“I can't keep up with her on the hill.”
“The little boy could not keep up with the older children.”
Stay informed about something current
“I try to keep up with the news.”
“She keeps up with changes in tax law.”
Prevent someone from going to bed or sleeping
Why “up”? Something normal is disturbed. Feelings, systems, machines, or behavior become noisy, troubled, or out of control.
“The noise kept me up all night.”
“A late phone call kept her up past midnight.”
Prevent something from falling down
Why “up”? Movement goes from low to high.
“What keeps the roof up?”
“These posts keep the tent up in strong wind.”
Maintain pretences, an appearance or a habit
“She kept up a brave face throughout.”
“He kept up the story for years.”
Match the social or financial standard of others
Why “up”? A standard sits above you. Measuring up means reaching that expected level.
“They struggle to keep up with the neighbours.”
“He bought a bigger car to keep up with his friends.”
Don't confuse with
Keep up means continue at the same level. Keep out means stop someone or something from entering.
Keep up means continue at the same level or rate. Keep on means continue wearing.
Keep up means continue at the same level or rate. Keep together means continue to control your feelings.
Test yourself
“Keep up the good work.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
keep down
A contrast learners often mix up
Prevent from rising or escaping
keep on
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue wearing; Continue doing something repeatedly; Continue to employ someone; Continue talking about something annoyingly
keep out
A contrast learners often mix up
Prevent someone or something from entering
keep together
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue to control your feelings
act up
Same up pattern: trouble
Behave badly or stop working properly
blow up
Same up pattern: trouble
Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious
call up
Same up pattern: upward
Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team
catch up
Same up pattern: same level
Reach the same level or position as someone ahead; Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed; (of bad behaviour or neglect) start to have unavoidable consequences; Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart
Practice “keep up” in Sink In
Drill this and 600+ phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by particle.