catch up

Definition of catch upnext
1
as in to trap
to catch or hold as if in a net a young idealist who got caught up in the political fanaticism of the times

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to fascinate
to hold the attention of as if by a spell completely caught up in opera ever since he saw La Traviata

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of catch up Josh runs and catches up with Lindsay, Austin, and Ashley just outside the Trochos clinic. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026 European and Canadian visitors have been caught up in the president’s deportation campaign as well, likely discouraging more tourism. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 Leave the blind at home and go as light as possible, so your extraneous gear won’t get caught up in the brush and make a racket. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026 The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics will be caught up from delays this month, and Minnesota’s March jobs report is scheduled to be released on April 30. Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catch up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch up
Verb
  • The bodies of two workers trapped when a stairwell roof collapsed at a parking garage under construction in Philadelphia have been found, authorities announced Monday morning.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • However, the party piece is that the air trapped under the wing creates a high-pressure cushion effect with a lift-to-drag ratio beyond that of a conventional aircraft.
    David Szondy April 13, New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the book, Oppenheimer noted a family legend that Kennedy was fascinated by bugs as an infant; by the age of nine, the book said, Kennedy had a pet collection that included raccoons, rats, a horse, a calf, lizards, chickens, and snakes.
    Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The price of rotisserie and roast chicken has long fascinated New Yorkers.
    Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If someone dominates the conversation, pivot with a smart question — try to say something that could interest quieter individuals, so everyone gets a chance to speak.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Students who are more intentional about how their major connects to real opportunities — that actually interest them — tend to pull ahead.
    Rasheem Rooke, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Wildtype co-founders Justin Kolbeck and Aryé Elfenbein invited chefs to their headquarters in San Francisco and then went to the restaurants during early days of service, providing FAQ sheets that informed how chefs label the product on menus.
    Jaia Clingham-David, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The women were informed that filming for season five was to be paused until production’s investigation, which is separate from the law enforcement investigation, concludes.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That impact and his trajectory launched his dragster up into the air, erupting in a fireball, breaking into pieces and getting badly tangled in the catch fencing.
    Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Their little brother Dante is an irresponsible party boy, tangled up with a ruthless local gang.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Everyone was enchanted by the idea of Nicole as a pro wrestler.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Designer Michael Rider knows that his job is not to tantalize the world with his ego, a tendency that has brought us countless collections of oversized, lumpy garments that are unrealistic for people to wear, but to enchant them with terrific clothes.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, Kahan occupies a funny spot in the pop-music cosmos—music for people who own too much performance fleece to embrace the bombast of Taylor Swift but aren’t quite feral enough for the cacophony of Geese.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • McMahon told me that another priority is patriotic education.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Don Cheadle told Entertainment Tonight in July 2021about tying the knot with his partner of nearly 30 years, Bridgid Coulter, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Catch up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20up. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

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