keep up

phrasal verb

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	keep up
he/she/it	keeps up
present participle	keeping up
past tense	kept up
past participle	kept up

1
transitive to continue to do something
We’re on a winning streak – hopefully we can keep it up.
Keep up the good work.
The trade unions continued to keep up pressure for higher wages.
Synonyms and related words
To continue something, or to continue to do something
continue
go on
follow through
1. 1a
  to continue to pretend that something is true
  She tried to appear cheerful but couldn’t keep it up.
  His family kept up the pretence that he had been ill.
  Synonyms and related words
  To pretend to do or feel something
  pretend
  fake
  simulate
2
intransitive to move at the same speed as someone or something
Try to keep up!
keep up with someone:
He had to hurry to keep up with her.
Synonyms and related words
To move at a particular speed
travel
leave behind
keep pace (with)
1. 2a
  to make progress or learn at the same speed as someone or something
  By studying hard she managed to keep up.
  keep up with someone:
  We always try to keep up with our competitors.
  Synonyms and related words
  To learn new skills or information
  learn
  train
  master
3
intransitive to continue to learn about something or find out about something, so that you know the latest things that are happening
keep up with:
We try to keep up with what’s happening.
Synonyms and related words
To make progress, or to achieve something
progress
get on with
get ahead
4
intransitive to continue to understand what someone is saying
I told you she’s my sister, not my girlfriend. Keep up!
keep up with:
I found myself unable to keep up with the conversation.
Synonyms and related words
To understand something
understand
know
work out
5
transitive (keep someone up) to prevent someone from going to bed
It’s late. I’d better not keep you up any longer.
Synonyms and related words
Going to bed, getting up and staying in bed
abed
an early/late night
an early/late riser