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”? A person or thing receives help so they do not fall, fail, or lose something important. It can also mean accepting a burden.
“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 is an expected level. A person or thing is good enough when they reach it.
“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
back up
Same up pattern: support
Make a digital copy of data as a safeguard; Support someone's claim, story or position; Move backward along the same path; (of traffic or water) accumulate because flow is blocked
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
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
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