keeping up with the Joneses

A form of keep up with the Joneses — To act or make purchases for status or image rather than out of need, especially for the purpose of competing with friends, neighbors, or society.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of keep up with the Joneses
Cite this entry
APA

keeping up with the Joneses. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keeping%20up%20with%20the%20Joneses

MLA

“keeping up with the Joneses.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keeping%20up%20with%20the%20Joneses. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keeping up with the Joneses,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keeping%20up%20with%20the%20Joneses.

Source: keeping up with the Joneses on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.