A brute keeping right up to date (7)
I believe the answer is:
abreast
'up to date' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a brute keeping right' is the wordplay.
'brute' becomes 'beast' (synonyms).
'keeping' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'beast' going around 'r' is 'breast'.
'a'+'breast'='ABREAST'
(Other definitions for abreast that I've seen before include "Side by side - in the picture" , "Side by side; keeping pace" , "Well-informed" , "Level in line" , "acquainted" .)