American Dictionary

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Definition catch up in American English

catch up phrasal verb

[intransitive] phrasal verb
1

to go faster so that you reach the person or vehicle in front of you

Example

We left first, but they caught up with us.

Synonyms and related words
2

to improve in order to reach the same standard or rate as someone or something

Example

He's missed so much school that he's going to find it very hard to catch up.

Example

Pressure grew for salaries to catch up with inflation.

Synonyms and related words
3

to do something that should have been done before

Example

The deadline's tomorrow. How are we ever going to catch up in time?

Example

I just want to go home and catch up on some sleep.

Example

Employees are struggling to catch up with the backlog.

Synonyms and related words
4

to talk to someone you have not seen for some time and find out what they have been doing

Example

Come over tomorrow and we can catch up.

Example

I'll catch up with you another time, Kevin.

Example

It'll give them a chance to talk and catch up with all their news.

Synonyms and related words
5

it's a phrase that means you should fill me in, you say it when you're missing out on something and you want to be filled in

Example

"Have you heard the gossip?" "No not yet, catch me up".

Definition catch up in American English