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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

catch-up catch up

“That said, the election is a positive sentiment trigger that may lead to support a further catch-up rally,” according to Wang.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Those few years of extra catch-up contributions between 60 and 63 can be lucrative if you can afford to fund them.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

Other recent episodes have been watched by more than 15 million, including catch-up.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

American is playing catch-up with competitors, though, after rivals curbed the practice years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

My parents had a pleasant enough catch-up with Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, and I followed Pamela around, gaping at her hair, her fair skin and teenager jewelry.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Instead, it’s a great day to catch up on how we got to this moment, what this election means, and what’s at stake.

From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026

So I’ll watch the sunrise, catch up on the news and do a little bit of doomscrolling to my detriment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Brussels and Ottawa also want to collaborate on AI, a field where they are playing catch up with the United States and China.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Beijing’s race to catch up in quality and quantity could one day flood the market in ways Western companies wouldn’t consider rational.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

It took Jack a minute to catch up, but when he did, he still couldn’t think of anything to say.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

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