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.
Millie was caught on camera by a woman having a coffee in the area. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 The relatable parenting moment then went viral online after it was caught on the SEC Network's broadcast and shared to X. A number of X users reposted the video with their own comedic captions. Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025 But, due to the injury, Gonzalez – who made a diving catch on Wednesday – is getting more starts. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025 Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 23 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 29 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!