What Does “Keep up with sth” Mean?
“Keep up with sth” means to stay informed about or maintain the same level as something, such as news, trends, or progress.
Introduction
The phrase “keep up with sth” is a common English phrasal verb used to express staying updated or maintaining pace with something. Whether it’s keeping up with the latest technology, news, or a fast-moving sport, this phrase helps describe the effort to not fall behind. The “keep up with sth meaning” involves both understanding new information and continuing to perform at the same level as others or as expected. This phrase is useful in many everyday situations, from work to social life, making it important for English learners to know how to use it correctly.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: keep up with something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: stay informed or maintain pace with something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Keep up with sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means you cannot place the object between “keep” and “up.”
Correct structure examples:
- Keep up with the news.
- She keeps up with her studies.
Incorrect structure:
- Keep the news up with. (Wrong)
How to Use “Keep up with sth”?
You use “keep up with sth” when you want to talk about staying current or not falling behind in knowledge, skills, or progress. It often refers to information, trends, tasks, or activities that require ongoing attention.
For example, you can say, “I try to keep up with the latest technology,” meaning you make an effort to stay informed about new tech developments.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “keep up with sth in a sentence”:
- It’s hard to keep up with all the changes in the fashion industry.
- He reads the newspaper every morning to keep up with current events.
- We need to keep up with the competition if we want to succeed.
- She finds it challenging to keep up with her classmates in math.
- They use social media to keep up with their friends’ activities.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use the phrase incorrectly by separating the verb and preposition.
Incorrect: “I keep the news up with.”
Correct: “I keep up with the news.”
Incorrect: “He wants to keep with up the trends.”
Correct: “He wants to keep up with the trends.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “stay up to date,” “follow,” and “catch up with.” While these can sometimes be used interchangeably, “keep up with” emphasizes continuous effort to remain current.
For example, “catch up with” often means to reach the same level after falling behind, while “keep up with” means to maintain that level consistently.
Common Collocations
People often use “keep up with” followed by:
- News – staying informed about current events
- Trends – following popular styles or ideas
- Technology – understanding new devices or software
- Work – managing tasks or deadlines
- Friends – staying connected socially
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of keep up with sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “keep up with sth”:
Alice: How do you manage to keep up with all the new apps?
Ben: I follow tech blogs and watch reviews online. It helps me keep up with the latest updates.
Alice: That sounds useful! I should try that too.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences by choosing the correct phrase:
- She finds it hard to _______ with the fast changes at work.
- a) keep up
- b) keep off
- c) keep out
- To _______ with the news, I watch the evening news every day.
- a) keep up
- b) keep in
- c) keep away
FAQs
- What does “keep up with sth” mean?
It means to stay informed about or maintain the same pace as something.
- Is “keep up with sth” separable?
No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Can I use “keep up with” for people?
Yes, you can keep up with friends or colleagues to stay connected.
- What is the difference between “keep up with” and “catch up with”?
“Keep up with” means to maintain the same level, while “catch up with” means to reach the same level after falling behind.
- How do I practice using “keep up with sth”?
Try using it in sentences about your daily routine, like following news or trends.
