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Glite Dictionary
to keep up with the times

to keep up with the times

3 3.9
Stay modern by learning about new trends
  • idiom
translation icon : mantenerse al día
  • The company needs to keep up with the times by adopting new technology.
  • try to keep up with the times

You know, Victoria's Secret took huge, you know, amount of, you know, online punishment for their not keeping up with the times and being more inclusive.

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Examples

  • You've gotta keep up with the times, I say.

    In Love with Alma Cogan (2011)

  • However, this NYC staple has kept up with the times by instituting a dedicated gluten-free menu featuring pancakes, French toast, sandwiches, burgers, and chicken soup.

    Blog text (6)

  • I always like to keep up with the times.

    Night of the Templar (2012)

  • You know, you gotta keep up with the times.

    Old Boyfriends (1979)

  • The church must keep up with the times.

    The Twelve Chairs (1970)

  • And that every artist wants to be seen as keeping up with the times.

    Blog text (27)

  • I apparently need to keep up with the times.

    Blog text (1)

  • Jules had kept up with the times: his bar looked modern.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Guild leaders need to keep up with the times, because if not, they hurt their chances to recruit players and maintain a healthy roster.

    Blog text (8)

  • We may be the oldest merchant bank in the world,... ..but that's no excuse for not keeping up with the times.

    Rogue Trader (1999)

Synonyms

to keep up
vsto keep up with the times
507 2.8

To continue at the same speed or level as others

focuses on changing to follow new trends rather than only maintaining level
to keep up with
vsto keep up with the times
172 3.5

To learn about the latest news or trends

emphasizes active adaptation to modern trends rather than only having information
to be with it
vsto keep up with the times
  • Informal
22 7.9

To understand current ideas and styles

requires actively changing behavior to follow new trends, not just understanding them
to keep abreast of
vsto keep up with the times
8 5.3

To stay informed about recent changes or news in a subject

focuses more on adopting innovations to stay modern rather than only tracking news
to stay informed
vsto keep up with the times
7 3.1

To keep up with the latest news and events

requires changing behavior to follow new trends, not only updating knowledge
to keep abreast
vsto keep up with the times
4 5.6

To stay up to date with new information

means adapting to changes to be modern rather than just being informed
to stay in step with
vsto keep up with the times
1 3.9

Keep up with changes so you do not fall behind

focuses on adopting new trends to stay modern rather than only keeping pace

Antonyms

to resist
311 2.2

Act against authority, rules or change

How Modern

trailblazing
1 5.6
to modernize
51 4.0
to keep up with the times
3 3.9
to adapt
150 3.0
to resist
311 2.2

Surface Forms

keep up with the times infinitive
keeping up with the times present participle
keeps up with the times third person singular
kept up with the times past
kept up with the times past participle

Morphology

keep + up + with + the + times

The meaning 'to stay current or modern' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'keep' (maintain), 'up' (in pace/level), 'with' (together/aligned) and 'the times' (the current era). The phrasal construction 'keep up with' transparently means 'maintain pace with' and this composition is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Keep up with the times comes from the image of time moving forward, like a fast train or a busy street where styles change quickly. To keep up means to move at the same speed so you do not fall behind, so the phrase now means 'stay modern' or 'adapt to new ideas'.