catch-up

American  

[kach-uhp] / ˈkætʃˌʌp /

noun

1. an effort to reach or pass a norm, especially after a period of delay.

   After the slowdown there was a catch-up in production.

2. an effort to catch up with or surpass a competitor, as in a sports contest.

3. an instance of catching up.

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adjective

1. intended to keep up with or surpass a norm or competitor.

   a catch-up pay raise to offset inflation.

idioms

1. play catch-up, to make a special effort to overcome a late start, a liability, or the advantage a competitor has.

   After Russia launched the first space satellite, other countries had to play catch-up.

catch up British  

verb

1. (tr) to seize and take up (something) quickly

2. to reach or pass (someone or something), after following

   he soon caught him up

3. (intr; usually foll by on or with) to make up for lost ground or deal with a backlog (in some specified task or activity)

4. (tr; often passive) to absorb or involve

   she was caught up in her reading

5. (tr) to raise by or as if by fastening

   the hem of her dress was caught up with ribbons

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catch up More Idioms  

1. Suddenly snatch or lift up, as in The wind caught up the kite and sent it high above the trees . [First half of 1300s]

2. Also, catch up with . Come from behind, overtake. This usage can be either literal, as in You run so fast it's hard to catch up with you , or figurative, as in The auditors finally caught up with the embezzler . [Mid-1800s]

3. Become involved with, enthralled by, as in We all were caught up in the magical mood of that evening . [Mid-1600s]

4. Also, . Bring or get up to date, as in Let's get together soon and catch up on all the news , or Tonight I have to catch up with my correspondence . [First half of 1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of catch-up

1835–45, noun, adj. use of verb phrase catch up

Example Sentences

“We had to play catch-up a lot ever since then,” Cortez said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will revisit its advice on whether a wider catch-up vaccination programme is needed.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

"We want to be ahead of the game, but because technology changes so fast, we sometimes find ourselves playing catch-up," he told AFP, adding that most perpetrators operate outside Singapore.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

“As gasoline and diesel futures outpace gains in crude prices, the possibility of some upside catch-up in WTI is increased since refiners will be purchasing extra crude barrels in attempting to capture highly favorable margins.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Candice was playing catch-up with everything Maynard had said.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Related Words

• get back
• reclaim
• recoup
• regain
• repair
• rescue
• restore
• resume
• retrieve
• salvage