keep up with the work

Meaning

This phrase means to manage your workload successfully so that you do not fall behind on deadlines or tasks. It is used in fast-paced professional or academic environments to describe staying on schedule. The tone is neutral, practical, and focused on performance.

Examples

• With so many new projects, it is hard to keep up with the work.

  With so many new projects, it is hard to keep up with the work.

• She works extra hours to keep up with the work during peak season.

  She works extra hours to keep up with the work during peak season.

• Our team needs more members to keep up with the work we are receiving.

  Our team needs more members to keep up with the work we are receiving.

• If you cannot keep up with the work, please let your supervisor know.

  If you cannot keep up with the work, please let your supervisor know.

• He is doing an excellent job of keeping up with the work assigned to him.

  He is doing an excellent job of keeping up with the work assigned to him.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am struggling to keep up the work.

  ✓ I am struggling to keep up with the work.

  Without 'with', 'keep up' means to maintain a certain standard or continue doing something, whereas 'keep up with' means to stay at the same pace as the workload.

• ✗ We must keep up to the work to meet the deadline.

  ✓ We must keep up with the work to meet the deadline.

  The correct prepositional phrase is 'keep up with', not 'keep up to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It can be difficult to ___ when you are managing multiple clients.

  💡 To avoid falling behind on tasks.

  Show answer

  keep up with the work

• He took a short break because he was struggling to ___.

  💡 To maintain the necessary pace of his duties.

  Show answer

  keep up with the work