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Meaning & use

caught up

adjective·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌkɔːt ˈʌp/
US/ˌkɔːt ˈʌp/

Meanings

  1. adjectiveafter a verb

    Deeply absorbed in or emotionally tied up with something, so that you lose track of everything else.

    Grammar: Usually used after be, get or feel, with in: caught up in the excitement.

    Patterns

    • caught up in something
    • get caught up in something

    I got caught up in the story and missed my stop.

    The whole crowd was caught up in the excitement of the final.

    She felt caught up in a world of rumors.

  2. adjectiveafter a verb

    Unintentionally involved in something unpleasant, such as a dispute, accident or investigation.

    Grammar: Followed by in: caught up in a scandal.

    Patterns

    • caught up in something

    Several tourists were caught up in the protest.

    He was caught up in a legal battle over the will.

  3. adjectiveafter a verbinformal

    Up to date with work or news that had piled up while you were busy.

    Grammar: Often followed by on or with: caught up on emails.

    Patterns

    • caught up on something
    • caught up with someone

    After the holiday, I finally got caught up on my emails.

    Are you caught up on the show yet?

    Once I'm caught up with the laundry, I'll join you.

Common combinations

get caught up in
Don't get caught up in office gossip.
be caught up on
I'm caught up on my reading at last.
caught up in the moment
We were caught up in the moment and started dancing.
caught up in a scandal
The minister was caught up in a scandal.
caught up with
I'm finally caught up with my homework.

Synonyms and how they differ

absorbed
Absorbed focuses on deep attention, while caught up in also suggests being pulled along by events or feelings.
entangled
Entangled implies a messy, hard-to-escape involvement, usually in trouble or a complicated situation.
up to date
Up to date is the neutral phrase for the third sense and is less casual.

Opposites

behinduninvolved

Word family

catch up phrase
to reach the same level or position as someone
catch verb
to seize or take hold of something moving
catch-up noun
an effort to reach the same level as others

Commonly confused: caught up or caught on?

caught up vs caught on

Caught on means became popular or understood, which is different from caught up in.

Practice

We were so ___ in the music that we forgot how late it was.

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