play catch-up
idiom
: to try to reach the same position, score, etc., as a competitor after one has fallen behind
The team fell behind in the second inning and has had to play catch-up ever since.
The company has been trying to play a difficult game of catch-up ever since its competitor introduced the new product.
Examples of play catch-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is the latest in a string of updates in which Twitch has had to play catch-up with the platform’s more risqué content creators.
—
Ash Parrish, The Verge, 27 Mar. 2024
By comparison, La Niña winters tend to have more snow in the first half of winter before El Niños play catch-up.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Coyotes (20-18-2) were forced to play catch-up against the Flames (19-1-5).
—Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Jan. 2024
Many analysts felt the need to play catch-up, increasing their stock price targets.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2024
An almost non-stop run in the tech-heavy index since January has challenged defensive positioning in the group following a dismal 2022, forcing investors to play catch-up.
—Elena Popina, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2023
The county then had to play catch-up, working to get front-end loaders and dump trucks up the mountain as well as secure specialty drivers, Rowe said.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
As such, some traders say next week could see the US market play catch-up.
—WSJ, 13 Oct. 2023
Radio, television, and print media, which were accustomed to controlling the flow of mainstream music, had to play catch-up.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2023
Ash Parrish, The Verge, 27 Mar. 2024
By comparison, La Niña winters tend to have more snow in the first half of winter before El Niños play catch-up.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024
After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the Coyotes (20-18-2) were forced to play catch-up against the Flames (19-1-5).
—Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Jan. 2024
Many analysts felt the need to play catch-up, increasing their stock price targets.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2024
An almost non-stop run in the tech-heavy index since January has challenged defensive positioning in the group following a dismal 2022, forcing investors to play catch-up.
—Elena Popina, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2023
The county then had to play catch-up, working to get front-end loaders and dump trucks up the mountain as well as secure specialty drivers, Rowe said.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
As such, some traders say next week could see the US market play catch-up.
—WSJ, 13 Oct. 2023
Radio, television, and print media, which were accustomed to controlling the flow of mainstream music, had to play catch-up.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'play catch-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near play catch-up
Cite this Entry
“Play catch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20catch-up. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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