1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly
we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
to become affected with (a disease or disorder)
you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stopping
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
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7
as in encountering
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 noticing
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 chasing
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of catching
Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Feb. 2026
With that much catching experience, he was bound to be a manager, and he’s been working with Rockies prospects in the low minors for 10 years.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Saturday’s performance felt particularly voyeuristic by the end, like catching a turtle out of its shell.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
Now starting his fourth season with the Braves, Murphy is expected to be one half the team’s strong catching duo alongside 2025 National League Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Feb. 2026
With that much catching experience, he was bound to be a manager, and he’s been working with Rockies prospects in the low minors for 10 years.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
But Toney’s impact extended beyond catching passes.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Saturday’s performance felt particularly voyeuristic by the end, like catching a turtle out of its shell.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
Resort manager Puspa, born in a small village on the east of Bali, can tell you everything there is to know about the local traditions, while farm manager Wayan’s passion for sustainable agriculture is infectious.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That said, whole-virus vaccines can cause more unpleasant side effects, and in rare cases, weakened live pathogens can redevelop infectious capability.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kaufman-Renn hit his first seven shots — going 6-for-6 and grabbing five rebounds in the first half — on the way to 20 points.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Agents targeted grocery stores, churches, and construction sites, smashing car windows and pulling people from vehicles or grabbing them at a hardware store parking lot.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The novel used all these tensions to propel a study of greed, avarice, and racial divisions between the haves and have nots, leading to McCoy getting his comeuppance.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Without getting into spoilers, much of the tension rests on whether certain protagonists get caught.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Brooke Bereuter was masterful in goal for Grapevine shutting out Argyle (18-4-3) until the shootout, including stopping a key penalty kick in the first half.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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And on Monday, March 30, the court upheld the stay, effectively stopping any chance that the execution would happen as scheduled.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their challenge is no longer securing Africa’s place in the global conversation of contemporary art but how to adapt as that conversation fundamentally changes.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Inn was founded by and remains owned by the Shorefast charity, which is dedicated to securing Fogo Island’s cultural and economic future.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Moderate exercise helps, but high-intensity overtraining can raise cortisol further, worth knowing if punishing workouts are already part of a stressed routine.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Ruca told Fox News Digital there were a few bittersweet feelings going into the match, just knowing what the two have been through together.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell issued a joint consumer alert on Wednesday describing the scheme, which appears to be part of a nationwide scam tricking people into making payments.—
Aldo Toledo,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
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The peach-plum gradient gown is the creation of Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen, whose high-fantasy sculptural gowns emphasize movement and eye-tricking form, often to gravity-defying effect.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Before encountering the issue, NASA officials had appeared optimistic that a successful fueling test had set the stage for a March launch.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
These spike trains often appear when fungi interact with their environment, such as encountering wood or other substrates.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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