Catch-Up vs. Catch Up vs. Catchup
Use open “catch up” for the phrasal verb and hyphenated “catch-up” for the ordinary noun or attributive adjective. Cambridge also records closed “catchup” in narrower combinations such as “catchup TV,” so it should not be generalized as the default spelling for every noun or verb use.
Write “catch up” as the verb (“I need to catch up”) and “catch-up” as the ordinary noun/adjective (“a catch-up meeting”). Use closed “catchup” only where the established term or house style specifically uses it.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Grammatical role | Default form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | catch up | We need to catch up. |
| Noun | catch-up | Let’s have a catch-up. |
| Adjective before a noun | catch-up | a catch-up meeting |
| Narrow established closed compounds | catchup | Use only where the established term or house style uses the closed form, such as documented “catchup TV.” |
Quick tests
Role test
Can you place “to” before the expression as a verb?
If yes: Use the open verb “catch up.”
If no: If it names or modifies a thing, the ordinary form is “catch-up”; reserve closed “catchup” for established narrower uses.
Caveat: Closed “catchup” is attested, but that does not make it the general spelling of the noun or verb.
Examples
I need to catch up on the messages.
The phrasal verb is open.
We scheduled a catch-up meeting for Monday.
The attributive form is hyphenated.
Let’s catchup tomorrow.
Better: Let’s catch up tomorrow.
The ordinary verb is written as two words.
Further guidance
Closed Form Boundary
Do not turn every noun into “catchup”; closed spelling is documented in some specific compounds, including “catchup TV.”
Noun Adjective Use
Use “catch-up” for the ordinary noun or adjective, such as a catch-up or catch-up session.
Verb Use
Use “catch up” as the phrasal verb for reaching a level, completing delayed work, or exchanging recent news.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Catch up / catch-up — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Headword evidence distinguishing open phrasal verb “catch up” from hyphenated noun/adjective “catch-up.”