German word

aufholen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯fˌhoːlən/

Meaning

  • verbcatch up with ___

Example

Ich habe zu den Anderen aufgeholt.

I caught up with the others.

Illustration for aufholen (catch up with ___)

More examples

Er versucht, den versäumten Stoff bis Freitag aufholen.

He is trying to catch up on the missed material by Friday.

Core concept

A slower group steadily reduces the distance until it reaches the faster group.

Common phrases

  • versäumten Stoff aufholen

    catch up on missed material

  • Stunden aufholen

    make up missed class hours

  • Punkte aufholen

    make up points

Similar words

einholen: Reach a person or object ahead by reducing the distance to it.
überholen: Pass a person or vehicle ahead and move in front of it.
nachholen: Make up for something missed or delayed by doing it later.

Definition in German

einen Abstand verringern und zu jemandem oder einem Ziel gleichziehen

Word origin

Aufholen is a Germanic compound of auf and holen, whose combined directional meaning developed into reaching something previously ahead.

Usage tips

  • Aufholen means closing a gap, not necessarily passing the other person; passing is usually expressed by 'überholen'.

Other meanings

  • regain lost groundverb

Opposites

  • hinterherhinkenlag behindverb

Related words

  • Aufholbedarfneed to catch upnoun
  • aufholbarable to be made upadjective
  • Aufholpotenzialcatch-up potentialnoun

Word lists with this word