Phrasal verb
catch up with
Meanings
to reach someone who is ahead of you; to become level with them
to meet or talk with someone to share news after not seeing them for some time
to do unfinished tasks so you are no longer behind
Definition
To catch up with someone means to reach them after being behind and become level with them.
“Catch up with” most commonly means to reach someone who is ahead of you, either physically or in progress. It can also mean to meet or talk with someone to share recent news after not seeing them for a while. In a third common use, it means to do something you delayed so you are no longer behind, such as work or reading.
Examples
- I ran faster to catch up with my sister on the trail.
- Can you catch up with me after the meeting and tell me what I missed?
- He stayed late to catch up with his emails.
- We finally caught up with our friends over dinner last weekend.
- They watched extra lessons to catch up with the class.
Common mistake
Learners often say “catch with” or “catch up” without “with” when they need an object (e.g., “catch up with her”).
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.