keep up

keep up
1) PHRASAL VERB If you keep up with someone or something that is moving near you, you move at the same speed.

[V P with n] She shook her head and started to walk on. He kept up with her. [Also V P]

2) PHRASAL VERB To keep up with something that is changing means to be able to cope with the change, usually by changing at the same rate.

[V P with n] The union called the strike to press for wage increases which keep up with inflation...

[V P] Things are changing so fast, it's hard to keep up.

3) PHRASAL VERB If you keep up with your work or with other people, you manage to do or understand all your work, or to do or understand it as well as other people.

[V P with n] Penny tended to work through her lunch hour in an effort to keep up with her work...

[V P] Life here is tough for a parent whose kids aren't keeping up in school.

4) PHRASAL VERB If you keep up with what is happening, you make sure that you know about it.

[V P with n] She did not bother to keep up with the news. [Also V P]

5) PHRASAL VERB If you keep something up, you continue to do it or provide it.

[V n P] I was so hungry all the time that I could not keep the diet up for longer than a month...

[V P n (not pron)] They risk losing their homes because they can no longer keep up the repayments.

6) PHRASAL VERB If you keep something up, you prevent it from growing less in amount, level, or degree.

[V n P] There will be a major incentive among TV channels to keep standards up...

[V P n (not pron)] Opposition forces are keeping up the pressure against the government.

Syn:
7) See also keep 25)

English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Keep — (k[=e]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Kept} (k[e^]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Keeping}.] [OE. k[=e]pen, AS. c[=e]pan to keep, regard, desire, await, take, betake; cf. AS. copenere lover, OE. copnien to desire.] 1. To care; to desire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] I… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — [kiːp] verb kept PTandPP [kept] 1. [transitive] to store something that will be useful: • The Credit Reference Agency keeps files on individuals debt records. • You should keep a supply of forms. 2 …   Financial and business terms

  • Keep — Keep, v. i. 1. To remain in any position or state; to continue; to abide; to stay; as, to keep at a distance; to keep aloft; to keep near; to keep in the house; to keep before or behind; to keep in favor; to keep out of company, or out reach.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — vb 1 Keep, observe, celebrate, solemnize, commemorate are comparable when they mean to pay proper attention or honor to something prescribed, obligatory, or demanded (as by one s nationality, religion, or rank), but they vary widely in their… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • keep — [kēp] vt. kept, keeping [ME kepen < OE cœpan, to behold, watch out for, lay hold of, akin to MLowG kapen, ON kopa, to stare at < ? IE base * ĝab , to look at or for] 1. to observe or pay regard to; specif., a) to observe with due or… …   English World dictionary

  • keep — ► VERB (past and past part. kept) 1) have or retain possession of. 2) retain or reserve for use in the future. 3) put or store in a regular place. 4) (of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition. 5) continue in a specified condition,… …   English terms dictionary

  • Keep — Keep, n. 1. The act or office of keeping; custody; guard; care; heed; charge. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Pan, thou god of shepherds all, Which of our tender lambkins takest keep. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. The state of being kept; hence, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • keep — keep; green·keep·er; house·keep; house·keep·er; keep·able; keep·er·ing; keep·er·ship; keep·sake; store·keep; keep·er; …   English syllables

  • Keep — 〈f. 20; Seemannsspr.〉 Kerbe, Rille * * * Keep, die; , en [aus dem Niederd. < mniederd. kēp, wohl verw. mit ↑ kappen] (Seemannsspr.): Rille, Kerbe (in einer Boje, einem Block, Mast o. Ä.), die einem darumgelegten Tau Halt gibt. * * * I Keep   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • keep — I (continue) verb be constant, be steadfast, carry forward, carry on, endure, extend, forge ahead, go on, keep going, last, lengthen, live on, maintain, move ahead, never cease, perpetuate, perseverare, persevere, persist, press onward, progress …   Law dictionary

  • keep — The construction keep + object + from + ing verb is idiomatic in current English: • His hands held flat over his ears as if to keep his whole head from flying apart Martin Amis, 1978. The intransitive use of keep + from + ing verb is recorded in… …   Modern English usage

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