How to use "catch up with"

What Does "catch up with" Mean?

The expression catch up with is a multi-word phrasal verb with three primary meanings. First, it means to reach the same quality, status, or position as someone or something that was previously ahead (e.g., catching up with a competitor). Second, it refers to the social act of meeting or talking to someone to learn what has happened in their life since the last encounter. Third, it can have a more ominous, semi-idiomatic meaning: when past actions or problems finally begin to cause trouble for someone.

While the literal sense of "catching" someone is compositional, the social and figurative senses are semi-idiomatic. The register is generally neutral, making it suitable for both casual conversation and professional journalism.

How to Use It

The grammatical pattern is verb + particle + preposition (catch + up + with). Because this is a three-part phrasal verb, it is inseparable; the object must follow the preposition "with."

• Typical objects: People (friends, classmates), tasks (work, emails), or abstract concepts (legislation, the past).
• What sounds unnatural: Using "catch up to" is sometimes acceptable for physical distance, but using "catch with" (omitting 'up') or "catch up" followed immediately by a noun (e.g., "I need to catch up my friend") is grammatically incorrect. You must include "with" if there is an object.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from catch up with on Ludwig.guru.

"Later, I catch up with Jeff." — theguardian.com

"After dinner I'll catch up with emails." — theguardian.com

"Eventually, his outrages catch up with him." — theguardian.com

"We hurried to catch up with him." — newyorker.com

"Let administration catch up with legislation." — economist.com

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
get up to speed	Often used in business to mean learning the latest information about a project.
keep pace with	Formal; implies maintaining the same speed as someone else rather than reaching them.
reconnect with	Specific to social contexts where you haven't seen someone for a long time.
overtake	Used when you not only catch up but actually pass the person or entity in front.
draw level with	A more formal or British English way to describe reaching the same position.

Common Mistakes

• Omitting the preposition: Learners often say "I need to catch up my brother," which is incorrect. You must use catch up with when an object follows.
• Confusing it with 'keep up with': To catch up with means to close a gap that already exists. To keep up with means to maintain the same pace so that a gap does not form in the first place.
• Separation error: Do not place the object between the words (e.g., "catch him up with"). The phrase stays together as a single unit before the object.

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
catch up with	To reach a level, meet someone, or face consequences	Verb + Particle + Preposition (Inseparable)	Neutral

FAQs

Can I separate the words in catch up with by putting the object in the middle?

No, catch up with is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the words must stay together in that exact order. You cannot say "I caught him up with"; instead, you must say "I caught up with him."

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What is the difference between catch up with and keep up with?

To catch up with implies that you were behind and have now reached the same point as someone else. Conversely, keep up with implies that you are already at the same level and are working to ensure you do not fall behind.

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Why do I need to include the word with when talking about a person?

Learners often omit the preposition with when an object follows, but this is a grammatical error. You can use "catch up" alone as an intransitive verb (e.g., "Go ahead, I'll catch up"), but if you name the person or thing, you must use the full transitive form catch up with.