1
as in trapping
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 fascinating
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
as in interesting
to hold the attention of
so caught up in the game that she didn't note the passage of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in informing
to give information to
catch me up on what's been happening at the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching up
This distinction is important, and the market is still in the process of catching up.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But the compensation models are still catching up.
—John Acunto, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
The federal government is gradually catching up on economic reports that were postponed by the shutdown.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Sports as a kid catching up with me.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Uber will have some catching up to do in San Francisco, the city where it’s based.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Democratic New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is narrowly in the lead in the New Jersey gubernatorial race but her Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli is catching up, according to a poll.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The system is still catching up to the fact that preventative care is in fact necessary now.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
Anthropic has some catching up to do, however.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But the compensation models are still catching up.
—John Acunto, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
The federal government is gradually catching up on economic reports that were postponed by the shutdown.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026
Sports as a kid catching up with me.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
Uber will have some catching up to do in San Francisco, the city where it’s based.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
Democratic New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill is narrowly in the lead in the New Jersey gubernatorial race but her Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli is catching up, according to a poll.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The system is still catching up to the fact that preventative care is in fact necessary now.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
Anthropic has some catching up to do, however.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching up
Verb
-
Nurse had Philadelphia trapping throughout the floor, and that led to Sacramento missing shots and turning over the basketball.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Even though trapping itself isn’t painful to the animal, some anti-trappers and hunters are uncomfortable with the idea of an animal being captive, or experiencing fear when the trapper arrives to check the trap.—
Skye Goode,
Outdoor Life,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bystander videos, like the ones taken of Pretti, have played a key role for decades in informing the public when law enforcement kills or injures people.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2026
-
That discipline is now informing its expansion into the United States, where conversational AI is widespread but largely limited to customer support.—
Ilona Limonta-Volkova,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This will help prevent tangling and stretching during the wash cycle.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Laces can be washed in the same load, ideally tucked into another laundry bag to prevent tangling.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
At times, partners may have had a special mystique, enchanting you with their powers that may have sucked you in — for the better — or instead, like an addiction.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
-
If that wasn't enchanting enough, they were then joined by their original Broadway counterparts, Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba).—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s no copyright contingency telling you the dragon needs to have wings or not, or George should be English, French, or Turkish.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
That’s also telling us that this family is experiencing demographic change.—
Jason Parham,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During the ceremony, the politics of the moment were not ignored, with several award winners using the stage to speak out against the aggressive immigration enforcement that’s gripping the country.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Reyes worries the winter storm gripping North Texas will have serious consequences for her finances.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catching up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching%20up. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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