catchup

noun (1)

catch·up | \ ˈke-chəp

, ˈka-\

less common spelling of ketchup

: a seasoned pureed condiment usually made from tomatoes

catch-up

adjective

\ ˈkach-ˌəp

, ˈkech-\

Definition of catch-up (Entry 2 of 4)

: intended to catch up to a theoretical norm or a competitor's accomplishments

catch-up

noun (2)

Definition of catch-up (Entry 3 of 4)

: the act or fact of catching up or trying to catch up (as with a norm or competitor) had to play catch-up also : an increase intended to achieve catch-up

catch up

verb

caught up; catching up; catches up

Definition of catch up (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : 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

1a : to travel fast enough to overtake an advance party The soldier ran to catch up with his unit.

b : to reach a state of parity (see parity sense 1) 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

3a : to complete or compensate (see compensate sense 1) for something belatedly catch up on lost sleep

b : to acquire belated information catch up on the news

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about catchup

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Synonyms & Antonyms for catchup

Synonyms: Verb

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

Antonyms: Verb

disentangle, untangle

Examples of catchup in a Sentence

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Adidas is catching up with Nike on profitability—but at the risk that sales growth slips. — Carol Ryan, WSJ, "Adidas Shakes Off Its Old Achilles Heel," 3 May 2019 With this update, the Android app is catching up with the iOS app and the YouTube website, both of which have had a dark option for some time. — Peter Bright, Ars Technica, "Vertical video sheds its black bars on YouTube, Android app adds dark mode," 30 July 2018 Welcome to FTW Explains: a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. — Charles Curtis, For The Win, "What's the #InMyFeelingsChallenge Odell Beckham Jr. and Russell Wilson have participated in?," 9 July 2018 After catching up with Tony Hawk, now 50 and parenting four kids (plus two stepsons), SI's Jacob Feldman peels back the curtain on a different area of Hawk's life. — Si.com Staff, SI.com, "How Joey Chestnut Dominates July 4, Tony Hawk's Other Major Talent and More," 6 July 2018 Alphabet is catching up with its Google Home gadgets, but how best to overtake Jeff Bezos’s ecommerce titan? — David Meyer, Fortune, "A Google Home in Every Kitchen: Morgan Stanley Tells Alphabet to Flood the U.S. With Devices to Fight Off Amazon," 29 June 2018 Especially when the graduate programs in Canada, Britain, and the European Union are catching up to their American counterparts. — Emily Dreyfuss, WIRED, "In Upholding Trump's Travel Ban, the Supreme Court Harms Scientists," 27 June 2018 The pair, Steve Atkiss and John Meyers, were catching up as co-partners of a flourishing security and intelligence firm, Command Group, that at the time had a lucrative contract with a U.S. company operating in Saudi Arabia. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: A poll commissioned by Bush and Biden shows Americans losing confidence in democracy," 26 June 2018 Yet society is still catching up with how best to nurture those kinds of relationships. — Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, The Christian Science Monitor, "Fathers helping fathers, so kids can thrive," 14 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catchup.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.