keep up

/kip əp/

/kip əp/

Other forms: kept up; keeping up; keeps up

Definitions of keep up
  1. verb
    maintain a required pace or level
    “He could not keep up and dropped out of the race”
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    types:
    keep pace, keep step
    maintain the same pace
  2. verb
    lengthen or extend in duration or space
    “keep up the good work”
    synonyms: prolong, sustain
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    types:
    continue, keep, keep on, retain
    allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature
    type of:
    bear on, carry on, continue, preserve, uphold
    keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
  3. verb
    keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
    “The old lady could not keep up the building”
    synonyms: conserve, maintain, preserve
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    types:
    show 4 types...
    hide 4 types...
    embalm
    preserve a dead body
    plastinate
    preserve (tissue) with plastics, as for teaching and research purposes
    hold the line
    hold the line on prices; keep the price of something constant
    mummify
    remove the organs and dry out (a dead body) in order to preserve it
    type of:
    keep
    look after; be the keeper of; have charge of
  4. verb
    keep informed
    “He kept up on his country's foreign policies”
    synonyms: follow, keep abreast
    follow, trace
    follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
  5. verb
    prevent from going to bed at night
Pronunciation
US

/kip əp/
UK

/kip əp/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘keep up'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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