How to use "keep up with"

What Does "keep up with" Mean?

The expression keep up with is a three-part phrasal verb (also known as a phrasal-prepositional verb). It primarily means to move at the same speed as someone or something else, or to stay informed about a rapidly changing situation.

Its meaning is semi-idiomatic; while "keep" and "up" suggest maintenance and level, the addition of "with" creates a specific sense of parity or synchronization. The register is neutral, making it equally appropriate for casual conversation, journalism, and professional environments.

How to Use It

• Grammatical pattern: [verb] + [particle] + [preposition] + [object].
• Typical objects: People (competitors, friends), abstract concepts (trends, technology, demand), or tasks (lectures, correspondence).
• Separability: Unlike two-part phrasal verbs, keep up with is inseparable. The object must always follow the entire phrase (e.g., "Keep up with him," never "Keep him up with").
• What sounds unnatural: Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "keep up to") or trying to use it as a transitive verb without "with" when an object is present (e.g., "I can't keep up the pace" is correct, but "I can't keep up him" is wrong).

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from keep up with on Ludwig.guru.

"Keep up with lectures!" — inst.eecs.berkeley.edu

"We can't keep up with demand." — nytimes.com

"How do you keep up with trends?" — forbes.com

"Keep up with me on Twitter: PatrickBurnsBBC." — bbc.com

"To keep up with the Joneses." — latimes.com

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
stay abreast of	More formal; specifically used for staying informed about news or developments.
keep pace with	Emphasizes maintaining the same physical or economic speed as a competitor.
match	A single transitive verb; more direct and often used regarding performance or quality.
follow	Simpler and more common for social media or tracking a sequence of events.
cope with	Used when the speed or volume of work is a source of stress or difficulty.

Common Mistakes

• Wrong preposition: Learners often mistakenly say "keep up to" or "keep up on." While "keep up on" is sometimes heard in US English (e.g., "keep up on the news"), keep up with is the standard global collocation.
• Separability errors: You cannot place the object between "keep" and "up." Saying "Keep the work up with" is grammatically incorrect.
• Omission and Confusion: Learners often omit the second preposition 'with' when an object follows, or confuse it with 'keep it up' which has a different meaning. "Keep it up" is an idiomatic encouragement to continue doing something well, whereas keep up with requires an external benchmark or object.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
keep up with	To maintain the same rate, progress, or level of knowledge as another.	Verb + Particle + Preposition (Inseparable)	Neutral

FAQs

Can the words in keep up with be separated by an object?

No, the expression keep up with is an inseparable phrasal-prepositional verb. The object must always follow the preposition with, such as in "keep up with the news" rather than "keep the news up with."

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What is the difference between keep up with and stay abreast of?

While both mean staying informed, keep up with is more versatile and can describe physical movement or workload. In contrast, stay abreast of is a more formal idiom used almost exclusively for knowledge, information, and current events.

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Is it correct to say I need to keep up the news?

No, this is a common error where learners omit the second preposition with when an object follows. You must include with to connect the action to the object, and you should avoid confusing this with the phrase keep it up, which is used to encourage someone to maintain a good performance.