Cool MateKeep it going vs Sustain
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Keep it going
Top 2,000 (common)
Sustain
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Keep it going | Sustain | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kiːp ɪt ˈɡəʊɪŋ//🇺🇸 //kip ɪt ˈɡoʊɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/səˈsteɪn/","/səˈsteɪnz/","/səˈsteɪnd/","/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səˈsteɪn/","/səˈsteɪnz/","/səˈsteɪnd/","/səˈsteɪnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Continue doing something without stopping. | To keep something going or maintain it. |
| Example | Even when times are tough, we must keep it going. | We must find ways to sustain our natural resources for the future. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | keep it going strong, keep it going well, keep it going forward | no longer, barely, indefinitely, be able to, can, be unable to |
| Antonyms | stop, cease, halt | neglect, abandon, cease |
| Common mistakes | Using 'keep it going' to mean 'start something'., Incorrectly conjugating verbs after 'keep it going'., Confusing with 'keep going' which implies continuous action. | 'Sustain' is often confused with 'sustained' as a past form., Learners sometimes forget to add an object after 'sustain'., 'Sustain' is misused when referring to temporary situations, instead of ongoing support. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in casual and semi-formal situations, but may feel too informal in very formal contexts. | Use 'sustain' in contexts about keeping something alive or supporting it over time. It can be formal when discussing topics like environmental issues or less formal in conversations about personal interests. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Keep it going vs Sustain
What's the difference between Keep it going and Sustain?
Keep it going: Continue doing something without stopping. Sustain: To keep something going or maintain it.
Can you show an example of each?
Keep it going: Even when times are tough, we must keep it going. Sustain: We must find ways to sustain our natural resources for the future.
Can I use Keep it going and Sustain interchangeably?
Not always. Keep it going and Sustain are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.