catch on

verb

caught on; catching on; catches on

intransitive verb

1
: to become aware : learn
also : understand
didn't catch on to what was going on
2
: to become popular
this idea has already caught on

Examples of catch on in a Sentence

she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Things got even messier in 2011 when she was caught on camera refusing to hold a magazine with Beyoncé on the cover. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 10 Apr. 2025 The sweet moment, caught on camera, shows just how quickly little ones like Ellie Perkins can turn to their favorite person for reassurance. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 On Monday, Carrie Johnson shared an Instagram story from Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. Johnson, who served as prime minister from 2019 until 2022 before resigning due to growing party dissent, is somewhat known for being caught on camera in comical and ridiculous situations. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 The research team pulled together data from 160 studies covering 147 shark species caught on longlines or in gillnets, using this to build models that predicted AVM and PRM for over 340 species. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for catch on

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of catch on was in 1882

Cite this Entry

“Catch on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch%20on. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

catch on

verb
1
: to realize something
they had been teasing me, and I never caught on
2
: to become popular
will the new style catch on

More from Merriam-Webster on catch on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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