Keep up meaning
Keep up means to continue doing something at the same good level. It can also mean to go or learn as fast as others.
keep something up
keep up · kept · keeping
Great results! Keep up the good work.
Keep up meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Continue doing something at the same good level
keep something up
- Great results! Keep up the good work.
- I try to keep up my Spanish by watching films.
- It’s hard to keep it up when you’re tired.
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2
Go or learn as fast as others
keep up
- Slow down, I can’t keep up!
- The new girl is clever and keeps up easily.
- Technology changes so fast. It’s hard to keep up.
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3
Stop someone from going to bed or sleeping
keep somebody up
- Sorry, I hope I’m not keeping you up.
- The neighbours’ party kept us up all night.
- Coffee after six keeps me up.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use keep up in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is keep up separable?
When it means continue, keep up is separable: keep up the good work, keep it up. When it means go as fast as others, it has no object; add with to name them: keep up with the class.
Keep it up! is a short way to encourage someone. Do not confuse it with keep on, which means continue an action: keep on walking.
Verb tenses for keep up
| Present | I keep up · she keeps up |
|---|---|
| Past | kept up |
| Present perfect | have kept up |
| -ing form | keeping up |
Common mistakes with keep up
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: You’re doing great. Keep up it!
Right: You’re doing great. Keep it up!
A pronoun goes between keep and up.
Wrong: I can’t keep up the other runners.
Right: I can’t keep up with the other runners.
Use keep up with before the people you follow.
Wrong: Keep up to work hard!
Right: Keep up the hard work!
Keep up needs a noun, not to + verb; or say keep working hard.
Synonyms and opposites of keep up
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- keep up withthe same as meaning two, with the person or thing named
- carry oncontinue doing something
- maintainformal, keep something at the same level
Opposite
- fall behindget slower or later than others
- let sliplet something become worse
Keep up quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Your grades are excellent. ___ the good work!
Keep up the good work means continue at this level.
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2Choose the right sentence.
In the speed meaning, keep up has no object.
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3“Am I keeping you up?” someone asks at 11 pm. What do they mean?
Keep someone up means stop them from sleeping.
More phrasal verbs with keep
All phrasal verbs with keep, by level, with an exercise
6 phrasal verbs start with keep. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Keep up FAQ
Questions people ask about keep up.
What does keep it up mean?
It means continue doing well. Teachers and coaches say Keep it up! to encourage people.
What is the difference between keep up and keep up with?
Keep up alone means go as fast as others: I can’t keep up. Keep up with names who or what: keep up with the news.
What is the difference between keep up and keep on?
Keep up is about a level: keep up your fitness. Keep on is about an action: keep on running.
Use keep up in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.