keep piling up

USAGE SUMMARY

"keep piling up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something continuing to increase without an end in sight. For example: "Every day, the number of unanswered emails in my inbox keep piling up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"The bodies keep piling up".

The Guardian - Books

"The bills just keep piling up".

The New York Times

So many things I want to finish, they keep piling up, and never get finished.

The New York Times - Sports

Firms are also unlikely to keep piling up cash as much as they are now.

The Economist

The questions keep piling up, starting with the big one: How did Mr. Tobias die?

The New York Times

"What am I gong to do, keep piling up bills in the Senate?" he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Elsewhere, the zombies kept piling up.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, he keeps piling up base hits.

The New York Times - Sports

But the borrowings just kept piling up.

The New York Times - Arts

The miracles kept piling up.

The Guardian - Books

But the commendation awards kept piling up.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "keep piling up", ensure that the subject is something that can logically accumulate or increase over time, such as bills, tasks, or problems. For example, use "The bills keep piling up" instead of "The happiness keeps piling up."

Common error

Avoid using "keep piling up" with abstract nouns that don't typically accumulate. For example, it's less effective to say "The confusion keeps piling up" than to say "The unanswered questions keep piling up."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep piling up" functions as a dynamic verb phrase indicating a continuous and ongoing process of accumulation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples show its use across different contexts to describe increasing quantities or amounts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "keep piling up" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression used to describe a continuous accumulation or increase, according to Ludwig AI. It is most frequently found in News & Media. When using "keep piling up", consider the context and ensure that the subject is something that can logically accumulate. Avoid using it with abstract nouns that don't typically accumulate. Also, be aware of the potential for negative connotations and choose your words accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep accumulating

Focuses on the gradual gathering of something over time, similar to piling.

keep increasing

Highlights the growing quantity or amount, synonymous with piling up.

keep mounting

Suggests an escalating volume or intensity, like items stacking up.

continue to accrue

Emphasizes the ongoing addition or build-up of something, similar to piling.

persist in accumulating

Implies a sustained effort to gather or collect, resembling the continuous piling process.

steadily accumulate

Highlights the gradual build-up of something, similar to piling in a consistent manner.

build up continuously

Emphasizes the ongoing formation or increase of something, like a constant piling.

keep accumulating steadily

Combines the ideas of ongoing gathering and consistent progression.

grow steadily

Focuses on the consistent expansion or increase of something.

continue to amass

Implies gathering a large quantity of something.

FAQs

How can I use "keep piling up" in a sentence?

Use "keep piling up" to describe a situation where something is continuously accumulating or increasing. For example, "The tasks at work "keep piling up", and I'm struggling to manage them all."

What's a more formal way to say "keep piling up"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "continue to accrue" or "steadily accumulate" instead of ""keep piling up"".

Is it correct to say "kept piling up" instead of "keep piling up"?

Yes, "kept piling up" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct when describing something that accumulated in the past. For example, "The debts "kept piling up" before he filed for bankruptcy."

What are some synonyms for "keep piling up"?

Some synonyms for ""keep piling up"" include "keep accumulating", "keep increasing", and "keep mounting".