Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To reach the same level or standard as someone or something that is ahead, often after a period of being behind.
   • To learn or become informed about recent events or information one has missed.

2. Verb (transitive, with 'on'):

   • To do work or tasks that one has not done earlier, in order to be current.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (intransitive):

  • She ran faster to catch up with the leader. (She ran to reach the same position as the person ahead.)
  • I need to catch up on the news; I haven't read a paper in weeks. (I need to learn about recent events I missed.)

• Verb (transitive, with 'on'):

  • He stayed late to catch up on his reports. (He worked to complete reports that were overdue.)
  • I must catch up on my sleep this weekend. (I need to get the rest I have missed.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Catch up with someone": To meet someone you have not seen for some time and talk about what has happened since you last met.
  • Let's have coffee and catch up with each other.
• "Catch up to someone/something": An alternative to "catch up with," emphasizing the act of reaching.
  • The economy is finally catching up to pre-crisis levels.

Variants and Related Words

• Catch-up (noun, often hyphenated): An act or instance of catching up.
  • We had a quick catch-up over lunch.
• Catch-up (adjective, often hyphenated): Designed to help someone reach a standard.
  • She is taking a catch-up course in mathematics.

Synonyms

• Overtake: To catch up with and pass while traveling in the same direction.
• Make up for: To compensate for something lost or missed.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Catch up in (something): To become involved in something, often unexpectedly.
  • He was caught up in the excitement of the crowd.
• Catch up to (something): See "Advanced Usage" above.

Related Idioms

• Play catch-up: To try to reach the same level as others after starting late or falling behind.
  • After his illness, he had to play catch-up at work.

Verb

1. learn belatedly; find out about something after it happened
   • I'm trying to catch up with the latest developments in molecular biology
2. reach the point where one should be after a delay
   • I caught up on my homework