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

To keep up your spirits and care for yourself, consider starting some kind of exercise routine. —Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Why its needed: Like other school districts, the district said state funding has not kept up with inflation. —Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024

Even the likes of River Plate and Boca Juniors are really struggling to keep up, which leaves us wondering how the future of continental football in South America looks. —Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

As Americans from coast to coast make their voices heard at the ballot box, keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the 2024 presidential election and check back here for results. —Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 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)