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 Roth said that the adjustment can be especially tough because — even after the clocks move forward — most people still have to wake up for work or school at the same time, leaving the body scrambling to catch up. Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026 Fifty years later, the world is still catching up to him. Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2026 Is evidence catching up with anecdotes about GLP-1s and addiction? Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026 Since serious snow can hit in March or even April, every severe winter leaves school systems with only just a couple of months to catch up. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catch up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch up
Verb
  • In plays that feature women protagonists, the experience of feeling trapped is a recurring theme, whether characters are hemmed in by marriage, motherhood, gender roles, race, economic status or any number of societal norms.
    Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Vlad returns to find the protagonist and John trapped in the burning cabin and pulls them out.
    Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Spielberg has been fascinated by the UFO topic his whole career, with his 1977 classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind still considered by many to be the most compelling dramatization of the subject.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Shawn, too, is wracked and fascinated by the human ability to smile and smile and be a villain.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • And along with gender and empowerment, there’s also something about having bright colors and a lot of grief on stage that interests me.
    Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Celebrity doesn’t interest Vernon Hills junior Yury Plaksin.
    Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • From the haunting coastline of Namibia to off-road adventures in Iceland, let the 13 trips ahead inform your next adventure.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Instead of publishing that letter, Guerra said the state Democratic Party should have gone straight to releasing the VOTER Index and framing it simply as an opportunity to inform voters about the state of the race for governor.
    Linh Tat, Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The two will be twisted and tangled for all time — plenty of T-shirts commemorate the catch — with the Series secured in Pages’ glove.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
  • If travel plans or deliveries get tangled, confirm details ASAP, before problems get any bigger.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The face enchanting enough to gain entry into this party of the Four Hundred.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Irvi was enchanted and unnerved by Oaxaca’s clear blue skies, unmarred by skyscrapers.
    Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Music is the focal point of each service, with Jeffrey playing guitar and keyboards behind the curtain, singing in a wavering voice reminiscent of Jeff Mangum about the subjects, ideas and feelings that have occupied his mind at various stages of his life.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
  • And typically, Wegmann added, those units are occupied by productive, working adults, not layabouts or career criminals leeching off the system, as the old narrative goes.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Impala Platinum has opened formal talks with Zimbabwe’s central bank and lined up meetings with both the South African and Zimbabwean governments to press for clarity on Harare’s export-earnings policy, its CEO told Semafor, escalating a commercial cash-flow dispute into bilateral negotiations.
    Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Mar. 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 11 Mar. 2026.

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