kætʃ ʌp wɪð
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- catch
- Particles:
- up with
- Separable:
- No
What does "catch up with" mean?
- To reach the same position as someone ahead
- To spend time with someone you haven't seen
- For consequences to finally affect someone
Examples
- I'll catch up with you later.
- Run ahead - I'll catch up with you.
- His bad habits finally caught up with him.
- Let's catch up with each other over coffee.
- The younger students are catching up with the older ones.
How to use it
'Catch up with' can mean meeting someone socially or literally reaching them. Also used for karma or consequences finally affecting someone.
Similar expressions
reach
meet
overtake
Opposites
fall behind
Related phrasal verbs
- catch up
To reach the same point as someone ahead
- catch on
To become popular
- come up with
To think of an idea, plan, or solution
- put up with
To tolerate or accept something unpleasant without complaining
- keep up with
To stay at the same level or pace as someone or something
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
Use it in a practice answer
Try "catch up with" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.