keep on
phrasal verb
kept on; keeping on; keeps on
1
informal
: to continue happening, doing something, working, etc.
The rain kept on throughout the day.
He talked and talked. At one point I thought he would keep on all night.
She kept on talking after I told her to be quiet.
2
: to continue to have (someone) as an employee
The chef was kept on even after the restaurant was sold.
Examples of keep on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Investigators found raccoons and turtles being kept on the property as well, according to the sheriff’s office.
—
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 9 June 2025
Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and light more than ever.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 9 June 2025
Weinstein’s lawyers said the treatment of the juror was enough to shut down the six-week trial, but the judge urged the members to keep on deliberating.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
People are fed up with the high cost of healthcare and politicians looking to garner favor with their voter bases are going to keep on looking for opportunities to attack the space.
—Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep on
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 9 June 2025
Just keep on giving and giving because the world needs your love and light more than ever.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 9 June 2025
Weinstein’s lawyers said the treatment of the juror was enough to shut down the six-week trial, but the judge urged the members to keep on deliberating.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
People are fed up with the high cost of healthcare and politicians looking to garner favor with their voter bases are going to keep on looking for opportunities to attack the space.
—Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for keep on
Cite this Entry
“Keep on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20on. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share