German word

nachholen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈnaːxˌhoːlən/

Meaning

  • verbcatch up on

Example

Ich hole die verlorene Zeit nach.

I am catching up on the time I lost.

Illustration for nachholen (catch up on)

More examples

Wegen Krankheit muss er seine Arbeitsrückstände nachholen.

Because of illness, he has to catch up on his work backlog.

Core concept

A gap in a planned sequence is filled by returning to the point where progress stopped.

Common phrases

  • eine Prüfung nachholen

    retake an exam

  • verpassten Stoff nachholen

    catch up on missed material

  • einen Rückstand nachholen

    catch up on a backlog

Similar words

aufholen: Making up ground during an ongoing process after falling behind.
einholen: Coming up to the position or level already reached by someone or something ahead.
nacharbeiten: Completing previously neglected work or study at a later time.

Definition in German

etwas später erledigen, damit ein Verlust oder Rückstand ausgeglichen wird.

Word origin

Nachholen is formed from "nach-" and "holen," with the prefix adding the idea of following or coming afterward to the basic verb "fetch."

Usage tips

  • Nachholen refers to doing something later that was missed, whereas "aufholen" usually refers to reducing a deficit during an ongoing process.

Other meanings

  • compensate forverb
  • make upverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Nachholungmake-up classnoun
  • nachholbarable to be made upadjective
  • Nachholterminmake-up datenoun

Word lists with this word