# keep up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/keep-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To continue with (work, etc).

## Examples

- You need to walk faster to keep up with me.
- The class is moving very quickly, and I am struggling to keep up with the lessons.
- Despite the rapid evolution of technology in his field, he manages to keep up with the latest developments through constant study.

## Origin

From Middle English *kepen up*, used to denote the act of perpetuating, maintaining, or preserving. It is a phrasal construction equivalent to the modern *keep* and *up*.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.