catch up

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

Related to CATCH UP

Synonyms: entangle, enmesh (also immesh), ensnare, ensnarl, entoil, entrap, mesh, net, snare, tangle, trap

Antonyms: disentangle, untangle

Related Words: bag, birdlime, capture, collar; embroil, implicate, involve, mire

Near Antonyms: detach, disengage, extricate; clear, free, liberate

see all synonyms and antonyms

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