WordVale

keep up with

to stay level with; to stay informed

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to move at the same speed as someone else so you stay level with them

2. (verb) to do something at the same rate or standard as other people or things

3. (verb) to stay informed about something by following news or developments

Examples

• 1. I had to walk faster to keep up with my taller friend.
• 2. She studies hard to keep up with her classmates in math.
• 3. It's hard to keep up with all the latest technology news.

How to use keep up with

This phrasal verb is used in three related contexts: physical movement (staying alongside someone), maintaining standards or rates (matching others' output or pace), and staying informed (following developments). It often carries a sense of effort or difficulty, implied by collocations like 'hard to keep up with.' The third sense is the most common in contemporary usage, especially regarding technology and trends.

Common phrases

• keep up with the times
• keep up with the news
• keep up with the joneses
• keep up with demand
• hard to keep up with
• keep up with inflation

Synonyms

keep pace with · stay abreast of · stay informed about · match · maintain pace with

Opposites

fall behind · lag behind · drop behind

Word family

keeper-upper (rarely used) · keeping up (gerund)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'keep up with' (maintain pace/stay informed) with 'catch up with' (reach someone ahead of you); 'keep up' implies ongoing parallel movement, while 'catch up' implies initially being behind.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

hold back, hold on, iron out, kick off, lay off, look after

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained