keep up

Meaning

In an academic context, 'keep up' (often followed by 'with') means to progress at the same speed as the rest of the class, the teacher, or the curriculum. It means not falling behind in your readings, assignments, or understanding of the material.

Examples

• If you don't study every day, it is hard to keep up with the lectures.

  If you don't study every day, it is hard to keep up with the lectures.

• She had to work extra hours over the weekend to keep up with her classmates.

  She had to work extra hours over the weekend to keep up with her classmates.

• The chemistry course moves very fast, but I am doing my best to keep up.

  The chemistry course moves very fast, but I am doing my best to keep up.

• Students who miss classes often find it difficult to keep up.

  Students who miss classes often find it difficult to keep up.

• I read one chapter every night to keep up with the weekly reading list.

  I read one chapter every night to keep up with the weekly reading list.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I find it hard to keep up the class.

  ✓ I find it hard to keep up with the class.

  When you want to specify what you are staying level with, you must use the preposition 'with' after 'keep up'.

• ✗ I must keep down with my studies.

  ✓ I must keep up with my studies.

  'Keep down' means to suppress or stay low. 'Keep up' is the correct phrasal verb for maintaining pace.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The professor speaks so quickly that I can barely ___.

  💡 Stay at the same speed or level of understanding.

  Show answer

  keep up

• It is important to do your homework if you want to ___ with the class.

  💡 Don't fall behind.

  Show answer

  keep up