failed to keep up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to keep up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where someone or something is unable to maintain pace or progress with others or with a certain standard. Example: "Despite his best efforts, he failed to keep up with the rapid changes in technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Economies scrambled and failed to keep up.

The New York Times - Books

Marks have failed to keep up.

The Guardian - Business

Wages have failed to keep up with productivity.

The New York Times

Contrary to expectations, younger respondents failed to keep up.

The New York Times

We have failed to keep up any pressure.

The New York Times

Those retailers that have failed to keep up have suffered.

The New York Times

But Libya failed to keep up its agreed payments.

The Guardian

Un-self-forgivably, I failed to keep up our friendship from those days.

The New York Times

Even working such long hours I failed to keep up the repayments and lost my home.

The Guardian

But they have failed to keep up with corporate profits' rising share of the economic pie.

The New York Times

That has created an eviction epidemic, as people have failed to keep up with their mortgages.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to keep up", ensure the context clearly specifies what the subject is failing to keep up with. This could be a pace, standard, or trend.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to keep up" when a subject actively regressed, rather than simply not progressing. The phrase implies a lack of advancement, not a backward movement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to keep up" functions as a verb phrase indicating an inability or lack of success in maintaining pace, progress, or a required standard. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to keep up" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. It describes an inability to maintain pace, progress, or a certain standard. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, its usage spans across business and scientific domains, indicating a neutral register. To avoid misinterpretations, ensure the context specifies what is not being kept up with, and note that it describes lack of advancement, not active regression. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples illustrating the phrase's versatility and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unable to keep up

A more formal way of expressing the same meaning using "unable" instead of "failed".

did not keep up

A direct negation, suitable for simpler contexts.

could not maintain the pace

Replaces "failed" with a direct statement of inability and uses "maintain the pace" to convey keeping up.

could not keep pace

A more concise synonym, replacing "failed" with "could not" and using "keep pace" for a similar meaning.

fell behind

A simpler phrase indicating a failure to maintain a certain level or standard.

lagged behind

Implies a slower progress compared to others.

couldn't keep abreast

A more formal alternative, suggesting a failure to stay informed or up-to-date.

lost ground

Indicates a regression or loss of advantage.

missed the boat

An idiomatic expression meaning someone missed an opportunity because they were too slow.

became outdated

Focuses on becoming obsolete due to a failure to modernize or adapt.

FAQs

How can I use "failed to keep up" in a sentence?

Use "failed to keep up" to describe situations where something or someone couldn't maintain pace or progress with something else. For example: "The company "failed to keep up" with the latest technological advancements".

What are some alternatives to "failed to keep up"?

You can use alternatives like "could not keep pace", "fell behind", or "lagged behind" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "did not keep up" or "failed to keep up"?

"Failed to keep up" implies a stronger sense of inadequacy or inability, while "did not keep up" is a more neutral statement of fact. The best choice depends on the desired tone.

What's the difference between "failed to keep up" and "lost ground"?

"Failed to keep up" suggests a lack of progress, while "lost ground" indicates a regression or decline from a previous position.