catching up (with)

Definition of catching up (with)next
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching up (with)
Verb
  • Far northern Illinois, the northernmost stretch of Nebraska and far northeastern Oregon are also forecast to have potential of catching the northern lights (see graphic below).
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
  • The rules impact what is in the first five feet from a building or structure to better protect it from catching fire due to embers during a wildfire.
    Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Even in an era when AI can write code, Brin cautioned students against chasing—or abandoning—fields of study based solely on automation fears.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • According to witnesses, the minibus carrying the children was reportedly overtaking other stationary vehicles when the head-on collision occurred, per the news agency.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
  • The only thing faster than a bullet train is the zombie infection overtaking its passengers.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Catching up (with).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching%20up%20%28with%29. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.

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