keep up

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"keep-up" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“keep up” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating or falling.

Key facts for keep up
PropertyValue
Headwordkeep up
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “keep up” sits in English frequency

keep up falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for keep up is 7 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for keep up in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English kepen up (“to perpetuate, maintain, preserve”), equivalent to keep + up. The correct English form is keep up, spelled K-E-E-P- -U-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating or falling.
  2. 2
    To continue with (work, etc).
  3. 3
    To stay even or ahead.
  4. 4
    To ensure that one remains well-informed about something.
  5. 5
    To prevent someone from going to bed or to sleep
  6. 6
    To use capital letters as much as reasonable.

Etymology

From Middle English kepen up (“to perpetuate, maintain, preserve”), equivalent to keep + up.

Synonyms

keep pace

This word in other languages

mantener(Español)maintenir(Français)erhalten(Deutsch)manter(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "keep up"?
"keep up" is spelled K-E-E-P- -U-P.
What does "keep up" mean?
As a verb, "keep up" means: To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating or falling.
What is the origin of the word "keep up"?
From Middle English kepen up (“to perpetuate, maintain, preserve”), equivalent to keep + up. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “keep up”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is K-E-E-P- -U-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list