contend vs catch up with

contend and catch up with both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
contend	No	No	Yes	No
catch up with	No	No	Yes	No

contend (verb)	catch up with (verb)
to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation	catch up with and possibly overtake
have an argument about something	make up work that was missed due to absence at a later point
maintain or assert
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available