catch up

5 ENTRIES FOUND:

catch up

verb

Definition of CATCH UP

transitive verb
1
a : to pick up often abruptly <the thief caught the purse up and ran> b : ensnare, entangle <education has been caught up in a stultifying mythology — N. M. Pusey> c : enthrall <the … public was caught up in the car's magic — D. A. Jedlicka>
2
: to provide with the latest information <catch me up on the news>
intransitive verb
1
a : to travel fast enough to overtake an advance party b : to reach a state of parity or of being able to cope <students who miss class have difficulty catching up>
2
: to bring about arrest for illicit activities <the police caught up with the thieves>
3
a : to complete or compensate for something belatedly <catch up on lost sleep> b : to acquire belated information <catch up on the news>

Examples of CATCH UP

  1. <a young idealist who got caught up in the political fanaticism of the times>
  2. <completely caught up in opera ever since he saw La Traviata>

First Known Use of CATCH UP

14th century

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: catchwater
Previous Word in the Dictionary: catch–up (noun)
All Words Near: catch up

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up catch up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

Get Our Free Apps

Voice Search, Favorites,
Word of the Day, and More

iPhone | iPad | Android | More