keep after
phrasal verb
kept after; keeping after; keeps after
1
informal
: to tell (someone) again and again to do something
My kids kept after me to quit smoking, so I finally did.
I wasn't going to audition, but my friends kept after me.
2
US
: to require (a student) to stay at school after classes have ended
The teacher kept him after (school) for misbehaving in class.
Examples of keep after in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The right-handed Ryan, who improved to 12-5 with a 2.72 ERA, was one of the few marquee players the Twins kept after trading away 10 major leaguers during last month’s fire sale.
—
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2025
If cleaned properly, items that did not soak up water can usually be kept after a flood, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Prize options include a flashlight, zippered tech travel case, aluminum water bottle or a new book to keep after completing the last level.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2025
Tamara Weiss, an executive producer on the show who is also one of Shalhoub’s friends, was enthusiastic about the idea and kept after him to try and develop it further.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 May 2025
And Soto, while expected to make north of $5 million in 2025, is expected to be kept after the Orioles gave up two solid prospects for him at the deadline.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
The gross profit margin is one of them — the portion that companies keep after paying just the direct costs to make or stock their goods.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 9 Sep. 2024
However, Israel does not want to keep the bulk of its military based in Gaza indefinitely, but rather to pull back and regularly reenter to keep after Hamas.
—Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024
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Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2025
If cleaned properly, items that did not soak up water can usually be kept after a flood, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Prize options include a flashlight, zippered tech travel case, aluminum water bottle or a new book to keep after completing the last level.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2025
Tamara Weiss, an executive producer on the show who is also one of Shalhoub’s friends, was enthusiastic about the idea and kept after him to try and develop it further.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 May 2025
And Soto, while expected to make north of $5 million in 2025, is expected to be kept after the Orioles gave up two solid prospects for him at the deadline.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024
The gross profit margin is one of them — the portion that companies keep after paying just the direct costs to make or stock their goods.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 9 Sep. 2024
However, Israel does not want to keep the bulk of its military based in Gaza indefinitely, but rather to pull back and regularly reenter to keep after Hamas.
—Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Keep after.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20after. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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