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 When the man walked toward the registers, Robinson caught up and stabbed him in the side of his head. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026 Sugar Bowl Academy, which is based a few miles south of Castle Peak, also did not name people it is connected with who were caught up in the avalanche. Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026 At dawn today, that stupid and unethical decision—and many others like it—finally caught up with him. Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026 How Maryland gets caught up in this? Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catch up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch up
Verb
  • Normally, mucus works with tiny hair-like cells in the nose to trap allergens and germs.
    Brian Mastroianni, Health, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The deepest section of the valley is 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America, and the heat gets trapped down there to the point where triple digit temperatures are the norm through July and August.
    Graham Averill, Outside, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Systematic excavations at Pompeii began in the mid-1700s, and the site has fascinated historians and visitors ever since.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Then, there are the pesky vampirologists Theobastus Bombastus (André Jung) and Nepomuk Afterbite (Marco Lorenzini), who’ve arrived at this hotel for a vampire conference and are fascinated by Erzsébet’s legend, and my god, her gowns, too.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • These are the problems that most interest the complexity theorist Henry Yuen.
    Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Also consider local hiking groups, fitness classes, or dance classes—and don't be afraid to try a few different things to find what most interests you.
    Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Prioritize your safety by staying informed and prepared.
    Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The Declaration mandates no particular American foreign policy, but the values the document embodies have always informed it, even as American statesmen have struggled to reconcile the country’s many mundane interests with the principles that gave it birth.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • While Diane is posited as one of the good guys, it's later revealed that she's tangled up in the conspiracy to assassinate foreign leader Omar Zadar.
    Allison DeGrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Germany entered the cross-country skiing portion with a 13-second lead over the pack, followed by Japan eight seconds later, but the two got tangled in a crash that landed them in fifth and sixth, respectively.
    Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This enchanting 500-year-old Grade II cottage is set in 12 acres of mature gardens and land – including paddocks, a kitchen garden, and access with frontage on the River Arun (including fishing rights), ideal for kayaking and other water pursuits.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Along with the clear Bowie and Orbison inspiration, the album’s influences reflect the tastes of someone recently enchanted by the romance of California.
    Millan Verma, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The backstory Patio Elba occupies a historic building in the heart of Santurce.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Their tasting room occupies a former 1920s schoolhouse with bocce courts outside.
    Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Manuelito is worried that Chee will flip out if Leaphorn doesn't soon tell him his plans to exit the Navajo Tribal Police and put her in charge.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
  • But a resort spokesperson told South Tahoe Now that one incident involved the death of a 33-year-old man while skiing on an intermediate trail, and another was a medical emergency involving a 58-year-old man.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 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 25 Feb. 2026.

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