1
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to get
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
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4
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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5
as in to know
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
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7
as in to encounter
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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8
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed
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9
as in to chase
to move fast enough to get even with
despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest
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1
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized
the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow
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2
as in prize
someone or something unusually desirable
everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch
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3
as in haul
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time
the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of catch
Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Having the capability of catching the Starship booster is crucial for SpaceX, giving the company a completely reusable vehicle that is able to fly again.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2025
The catch is that whenever someone goes in, a red light is sent to the other villa, sure to ignite a bit of anxiety for the significant others across the way.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch
Verb
Attendees pose in front of Halloween decorations, then scramble to catch a photo beneath artificial snow nearby.
—Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
Having the capability of catching the Starship booster is crucial for SpaceX, giving the company a completely reusable vehicle that is able to fly again.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
Daniels had 42 catches for 480 yards with the Tigers in 2024, earning a 65.7 offensive grade.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2025
The catch is that whenever someone goes in, a red light is sent to the other villa, sure to ignite a bit of anxiety for the significant others across the way.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
Verb
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Lozano exited the match in the 28th minute after appearing to grab his left hamstring.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
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Tari Eason scored 14 points and Dillon Brooks added 12. Sabonis’ injury Sabonis grabbed his left hamstring while running the floor just over a minute into the game.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day’s news in your inbox every weekday.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Watkins made some bad decisions in traffic, and the Bruins were able to get away with some contact in the paint.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Misinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted clean energy, pushing the idea that solar and wind are unreliable—a line taken up by Citizens for Responsible Solar, a group led by a conservative operative who works to stop solar projects on farmland and timberland.—
Kate Yoder,
WIRED,
1 Mar. 2025
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The deputy had stopped Huttle, 42, of Hobart for driving 70 mph in a 55 mph zone.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
arkansasonline.com,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Everybody is saying security guarantees to secure the peace.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2025
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The new proposal Israel has announced would have Hamas release half of the living and dead hostages at the start of the seven-week ceasefire period, and would secure the release of the remaining hostages by the end, if the two sides reach an agreement on a permanent end of the war.—
Hadeel Al-Shalchi,
NPR,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Repressive autocrats around the world know this full well.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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What feels new is the expectation, on the part of both makers and audiences, that there is such a thing as knowing definitively what a work of art means or stands for, aesthetically and politically.—
Namwali Serpell,
The New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Phishing works by tricking the user, with no reliance on any particular operating system or browser.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
7 Mar. 2025
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Here are some alternative snacking options that can help trick your brain into feeling full.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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New York’s lower courts, where most New Yorkers encounter the legal system, still stand in the way of justice and progress.—
Peter Martin,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2025
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But what happened to his brain was remarkable – the only such case ever encountered by archeologists.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been spotted out and about with their three children, and people are noticing their closeness.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
7 Mar. 2025
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The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas keeps a tally of layoff notices.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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