keep one's head up

verb

To stay optimistic when dealing with adversity.

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Meanings

verbkeep one's head up (third-person singular simple present keeps one's head up, present participle keeping one's head up, simple past and past participle kept one's head up)

present singular third person keeps one's head up · participle present keeping one's head up · participle past kept one's head up · past kept one's head up

  1. intransitiveTo stay optimistic when dealing with adversity.
Cite this entry
APA

keep one's head up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20head%20up

MLA

“keep one's head up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20head%20up. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keep one's head up,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20head%20up.

Source: keep one's head up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.