keep up with — to move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else
Pronunciation (IPA): /kiːp ʌp wɪð/
Example Sentences
- My grandma uses TikTok to keep up with her grandchildren - she's more viral than them now!
- I tried to keep up with my fitness trainer, but ended up keeping up with the ambulance instead.
- Students need to keep up with their assignments to succeed academically.
keep up with
VERB[/kiːp ʌp wɪð/]
to move or progress at the same rate as someone or something else

She runs hard to keep up with her older brother on the trail.

When you're fed up, step up to keep up with the pack!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase combines three Old English elements: 'keep' derives from Old English 'cepan' meaning 'to seize or maintain', while 'up' and 'with' are prepositions meaning 'upward/onward' and 'together' respectively. The compound developed to mean 'to progress together with someone at the same pace'.
Breakdown
keep (Old English cepan: to maintain, hold) + up (upward, onward direction) + with (together, alongside), forming a phrasal verb expressing the idea of maintaining pace or progress alongside another person.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandma uses TikTok to keep up with her grandchildren - she's more viral than them now!”
“I tried to keep up with my fitness trainer, but ended up keeping up with the ambulance instead.”
“Students need to keep up with their assignments to succeed academically.”
“The company struggled to keep up with rapid market changes.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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