Saturday, August 2, 2014

difference between meet somebody, meet with somebody, and meet up with somebody

meet somebody - ()'Meet somebody' does not refer to a period of time, but rather to a point in time. To meet someone can be a chance encounter.
It can also be used for someone you have not seen before, or the first time you ever saw them1)  [intransitivetransitiveno passive] to come together socially after you have arranged it
      meet someone (for something)
             ------ We're meeting them outside the theater at 7.
2) to go to a place and wait there for a particular person to arrive
     meet someone
              ---- Will you meet me at the airport?
3) to see and know someone for the first time; to be introduced to someone
      meet (someone)
              ---- Pleased to meet you.
              ---- There's someone I want you to meet.
4) [intransitivetransitiveno passive] to be in the same place as someone by chance and talk to them
     meet someone
            ---- Maybe we'll meet again some time.
meet with somebody - ()'Meet with somebody' suggests more than just a moment. It suggests a period of time.  'meet with' suggests an extended, more formal discussion

meet with someone

 to meet someone, especially for discussions
       ----- The President met with senior White House aides.
meet up with somebody - ()'Meet up (with somebody)' does not refer to a period of time but sounds a little more informal than using 'meet somebody'. This is an informal get-together of a group of friends. Some may come to the meeting, some might not.

meet up (with someone)

to meet someone, especially by arrangement
       ------ They met up again later for a drink.

Meet/meet with/meet up with

(Hello!




Can anybody explain the differences between meet, meet with, and meet up with?



1. meet someone
2. meet with someone

3. meet up with someone


Is number #2 sort of suggestive of a formal meeting whereas #3 is an informal and casual way of saying "get together with someone?"


Thank you so much for your time!)

  • Your explanation is about right, Tony. The forms overlap, but 'meet with' suggests an extended, more formal discussion, while #1 and #3 indicate no more than getting together. '#3 suggests to me a quick getting together in order to do something else: 'We're meeting up in Rome and going on to Venice from there'.

  • #1: We met on the street yesterday.
    To meet someone can be a chance encounter.
    It can also be used for someone you have not seen before, or the first time you ever saw them.
    John: Have you met Mary?
    Bill: No, But I've heard she's really nice. 
    John: I'll introduce you to her.
    (A few days later)

    Bill: I met Mary on Monday. I liked her a lot and would like to see her again.

    #2. We met with John and Bill yesterday.
    To meet with is a planned meeting, usually for business.

    #3. Let's meet up with our friends at happy hour.
    This is an informal get-together of a group of friends. Some may come to the meeting, some might not.

difference between meet, 'meet with' and 'meet up with'

(I might have an idea as to the differences between the following verbs and it would be great if you could share yours:


- meet somebody (For example: I'll meet you tomorrow at the cafeteria.)
- meet with somebody

- meet up with somebody)

  • Good question! Not sure if it's right but to me, meet somebody is to see or to get together with that person. Meet with, to me means you have a meeting with the person. To meet up with means that you run into the person by accident (unplanned).

  • 'Meet with somebody' suggests more than just a moment. It suggests a period of time.

    We met with them yesterday for 5 hours in order to try to iron out all the problems. It took ages to address everything.
    'Meet somebody' does not refer to a period of time, but rather to a point in time. It is generally the moment at the beginning of an encounter. It can be used to refer to (1) the moment you are introduced to someone, or it can be used to refer to (2) the (usually pre-arranged) details of the time and/or place that you and someone else come together:

    I was quite surprised when finally I met him because I'd expected him to be much older. 
    I'll meet you at 7 pm sharp in front of the theater.

    'Meet up (with somebody)' does not refer to a period of time, but rather to a point in time. It is similar to (2) above, but sounds a little more informal than using 'meet somebody'. I'd say it can be used when the encounter is less formally planned, or more impromptu/indefinite than (2) above.

    Hey, let's meet up next time you're in Dallas.

    That's my take.

  • 'Meet up with' 'Meet with' are both unnecessarily elaborate ways of saying 'meet'. If you want to make 'meet' sound formal, it's simpler to say: have a meeting with ..'

  • "Meet with" and "meet up with" are useful, as they do not have the ambiguity of "meet" (i.e. "encounter" vs "meet for the first time" vs "have a meeting with").

    "Meet up with" (for me) suggests a gathering for social purposes, whereas "meet with" suggests a meeting for e.g. business purposes; the former can be used for the latter, but the latter might sound strange in place of the former.

    I have heard objections to "meet with" from BrE speakers, on the grounds that it's a US usage; but it can be found in Jacobean English, e.g.

    1. And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.

(I am pretty confused between "to meet somebody" and "to meet with somebody")

  • to meet - rencontre
    I met him on the train.
    I met nice people at the party.

    to meet with usually implies a little more formality and that the meeting is planned, not just the result of serendipity.
    I am meeting with my accountant this afternoon.
    We will be meeting with Mr. XY next Wednesday and can discuss the issue with him then.

 "meet with" or "meet"

(When you consult a lawyer for legal counseling, is (2) not OK?


(1) I meet with a lawyer.

(2) I meet a lawyer.)

  • #1 = A lawyer and I have a business meeting/consultation.
    #2 = I say hello to a lawyer for the first time and we introduce ourselves.
    (3) I am meeting my lawyer. = I am going to go to a specific place, find my lawyer there, and have a consultation with her.


(Are the following sentences correct? any difference in meaning?


- Thank you for taking time to meet me during my visit to Italy

- Thank you for taking time to meet with me during my visit to Italy)
  • Both are grammatically correct and are essentially the same.

    As a slight nuance, my impression is that "meet me" has the feeling of "make my acquaintance," whereas "meet with me" is more neutral as to the prior state of acquaintance.

  • In my point of view, "meet with" is used in formal occasions, like business, negotiation and so on.

what is the difference between 'meet'and 'meet up'?

  • They are both the same.

  • "Meet up" is the phrasal verb. Most of the time, the meanings will overlap, but "meet up" clearly suggests it was an arrangement and not a chance encounter.

  • There's no difference, they're just two different ways of saying it

  • They can mean the exact same thing such as "I will meet you later" and "You and I will meet up later". But "meet" can also mean the initial introduction of two people whereas "meet up" doesn't work in that situation

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