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• catch-up
  catch-up

  noun

  an effort to reach or pass a norm, especially after a period of delay.
• catch up
  catch up

  verb

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

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

See Examples For:

catch-up catch up

Police are playing catch-up against the militant group, which has deployed drones extensively in attacks since 2024.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

The primary teachers run intensive catch-up classes for first-year secondary school pupils without basic literacy skills.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

“Sunday we have a catch-up and we kind of go through a whole host of issues. …It’s a time we can be thoughtful.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

A sole proprietor earning $60,000, for example, may be able to contribute as both employee and employer, plus make an age 50 catch-up contribution.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026

Most girls are flipping and tumbling in Mommy and Me classes before they’re three, so in a way, I’d been playing catch-up.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

The company is battling fierce competition in the anti-obesity sector, where its hugely successful Ozempic and Wegovy treatments have spurred rivals to catch up.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

U.S. labs generally ban outside distillation of their proprietary models, but American officials say the technique remains a widely used shortcut for rivals to catch up to more advanced competitors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

But the 23-year-old's lack of match fitness appeared to finally catch up with him in a high-octane encounter filled with breathless exchanges and astounding displays of athleticism.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

There’s a practical element that is we needed the characters’ ages to catch up to our own ages a little bit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

“Hold on,” Jonah said, struggling to catch up with all of Daniella’s fury-by-phone.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

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