- keep up
- verb1. maintain a required pace or level (Freq. 6)-
He could not keep up and dropped out of the race
• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s
2. lengthen or extend in duration or space (Freq. 5)-We sustained the diplomatic negotiations as long as possible
-prolong the treatment of the patient
-keep up the good work
• Derivationally related forms: ↑sustainable (for: ↑sustain), ↑sustainer (for: ↑sustain), ↑sustenance (for: ↑sustain), ↑prolongation (for: ↑prolong)• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s something
-Something ——s something
3. keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction (Freq. 4)-We preserve these archeological findings
-The old lady could not keep up the building
-children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
-The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
• Derivationally related forms: ↑maintenance (for: ↑maintain), ↑preservative (for: ↑preserve), ↑preservation (for: ↑preserve), ↑conservation (for: ↑conserve)• Hypernyms: ↑keep• Hyponyms: ↑embalm, ↑plastinate, ↑hold the line• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s something
4. keep informed (Freq. 2)-He kept up on his country's foreign policies
• Syn: ↑keep abreast, ↑follow• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s
-Somebody ——s PP
5. prevent from going to bed at night-The anticipation of the trip kept the children up all night
-I kept myself up all night studying for the exam
• Verb Frames:-Somebody ——s somebody
-Something ——s somebody
Useful english dictionary. 2012.