keep on

British  

verb

1. to continue or persist in (doing something)

   keep on running

2. (tr) to continue to wear

3. (tr) to continue to employ

   the firm kept on only ten men

4. to persist in talking (about)

5. to nag (a person)

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keep on Idioms  

1. Continue, persist, as in They kept on singing all night . [Late 1500s]

2. Maintain an existing situation, as in After Mr. Brown died, the housekeeper wondered if she would be kept on . [Mid-1600s]

3. Cause to stay on or remain attached, as in Keep your coat on; it's cold in here . [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

And the numbers show that the U.S. economy is increasingly dependent on this class to keep on spending.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

It is becoming harder for users to tell whether content is real and "people keep on falling for these AI models", she adds.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

But if this past year has taught him anything, it’s how critical it is to keep on course.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

And other people who thought the market was going to keep on going down, they were going to make money by being short.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

I saw her keep her back to me, wipe her face, then turn around and keep on going like nothing was bothering her at all.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

Related Words

• advance
• carry on
• carry over
• endure
• extend
• go on
• last
• linger
• maintain
• persist
• progress
• promote
• pursue
• reach
• remain
• stay
• survive
• sustain