keep up

verb

kept up; keeping up; keeps up
Synonyms of keep upnext

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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These suitcases are designed to keep up with frequent travel while still looking sleek, making Labor Day a smart time to upgrade your luggage before your next getaway. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026 To make matters worse, organizational churn means teams rotate, priorities shift and systems evolve faster than documentation or oversight can keep up. — Brian Contos, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Cal Fire Local 1881 says wages haven’t kept up with inflation, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026 One challenge is keeping up with tech that is always evolving. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep up

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of keep up was in the 15th century

Rhymes for keep up

See All Rhymes for keep up

Browse Nearby Words

keep under surveillance
keep up
keep up appearances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Keep up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20up. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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