I. verb
transitive verb
1.
a. : to pick or lift up often abruptly
a thief caught the purse up and ran
b. : ensnare , entangle
caught up in the trivia of everyday things — Honor Tracy
c. : to involve often against the will
the firms have been caught up in a revolution — Percy Winner
d. : enthrall
caught up in the ecstasy of Vanity Fair — Bernard De Voto
2. : to adopt or take over (as an expression)
catch up all the new fads and slang terms
3. : to interrupt (a speaker) usually to question or criticize what is being said
you catch me up so very short — Charles Dickens
4. Britain : overtake
catch a friend up before he gets out of sight
5. : to provide with the latest information
catch me up on what's happening at the office
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to travel fast enough to join company
catch up with an advance battalion
b. : to bring about arrest for illicit activity — used with with
the police caught up with the thieves
c. : to have the expected ill effect or result — used with with
his evil ways caught up with him at last and he died a poverty-stricken and miserable man
2. West : to prepare horses, mules, or oxen for travel
we were told to catch up and begin the march at daybreak
3.
a. : to bring something to an end or to a final state — used with on
catch up on your bookkeeping
b. : to acquire belated information
catch up on what's happening in the news
II. intransitive verb
: to reach a state of parity or a state of being able to cope
some kindergartners without preschool education have difficulty catching up
— often used with with
will take years of spending to catch up with the immense needs