keep at

verb

1. (intr) to persevere with or persist in

2. (tr) to constrain (a person) to continue doing (a task)

Idioms and Phrases

Persevere or persist at doing something. For example, If you keep at your math, you'll soon master it . It is also put as keep at it , as in He kept at it all day and finally finished the report . [Early 1800s]

keep at someone . Nag, harass, or annoy someone, as in You have to keep at Carl if you want him to do the work , or He keeps at Millie all the time . Also see keep after .

Example Sentences

“No matter how mundane some action might appear,” he writes, “keep at it long enough and it becomes a contemplative, even meditative act.”

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The perpetrator would have to keep at least one clue from his victims to feign innocence, but a subtle inconsistency would allow others to infer his guilt.

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Keep at least six months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund to cover unforeseen costs.

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"This is totally doable. We just need to keep at it," she said.

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His welcome gift to new hires is a mattress to keep at work.

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