ENGLISH
REFERENCE

keep up with

phrasal verb.
B1 Intermediate Oxford General-service
Definition

phrasal verb. to move at the same speed as someone else, or to stay informed about the latest news and changes.

phrasal verb. to maintain the same pace or level of progress as another; to remain current with developments in a specific field or topic.


SIMPLE

I walk fast, so try to keep up with me.

CONTEXTUAL

It is difficult to keep up with all the new technology released every year.

COMPLEX

The small firm struggled to keep up with its larger competitors as the market shifted toward digital-first solutions.

  • fall behind
  • lose touch
Particles
up with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
keep + up + with + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun or pronoun object representing the person, pace, or information source.

Teaching tip

distinguish between the physical sense of walking/running and the mental sense of staying informed; both imply a fear of falling behind.

Pitfall

I can't keep up the news.I can't keep up with the news.the preposition 'with' is required when the object of the phrase is mentioned.

Last updated April 24, 2026