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 Developers aren’t waiting for the grid to catch up. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026 Stiff competition Still, there is little indication that the American automaker is primed to catch up to BYD's sizeable lead in domestic and overseas sales. Matthew Chin, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026 Children should be able to enter kindergarten ready to thrive instead of trying to catch up. Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026 Theroux is a hoot as the cult fixer with a past, thoroughly having a blast as this mysterious guy whose shaky history is about to catch up with him. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 12 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
  • What fascinates me most about this girl gang is the intensity, particularly the narrator’s love for fighting.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Still, in the right hands, pretty can fascinate.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 10 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 instinctive Moon opposes jovial Jupiter, tangling your 10th House of Ambition with your 4th House of Comfort.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Instead, gently tease out roots if they’re tangled but keep that familiar soil around them.
    Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 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
  • Since childhood, letter writer was told to show up for older siblings who never reciprocated.
    Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2026
  • One of Ghazali's neighbors told The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the assailant's brother was killed in an airstrike.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 16 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 16 Mar. 2026.

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