catching up (with)

verb

present participle of catch up (with)
as in catching
to move fast enough to get even with I walked faster to catch up with my friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching up (with)
  1. catching
  2. chasing
  3. overtaking
Verb
  • One employee took responsibility for not catching the boys’ early and unapproved departure.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • O’Neill threw out Nick Allen at the plate after catching Altuve’s flyball to shallow right field.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • Imanaga recovered a bit after the leadoff home run, but the Cardinals lineup coaxed long at-bats and drove up his pitch count, chasing the left-hander from the game after 4 2/3 innings.
    — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • These businesses live or die by people answering phones, booking jobs, chasing payments and calming down upset customers.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of chasing
Verb
  • Messi registered his fourth assist in setting up two goals in the semi-final win against England, overtaking Mbappe, who is on three.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Last week, Women’s Aid Ireland reported that eight women have died violently so far this year, already overtaking the whole of 2025.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of overtaking
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.

Browse Nearby Words

catching up
catching up (with)
catch on
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catching up (with).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching%20up%20%28with%29. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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