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
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2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
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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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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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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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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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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
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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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024
For the upcoming Scotch & Soda summer 2025 season, key menswear trends include:
Bold Patterns and Prints: Expect to see a resurgence of vibrant, eye- catching patterns in union with beach stripes and patterns.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
Chay Lapin, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Clark sustained the injury after catching a slant pattern late in the second quarter of Saturday’s 38-24 win against Florida Atlantic, as a defender’s helmet clashed with Clark’s knee.
—Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catching 
Adjective
Another trend sweeping TikTok and catching young male attention is called auramaxxing.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024
For the upcoming Scotch & Soda summer 2025 season, key menswear trends include:
Bold Patterns and Prints: Expect to see a resurgence of vibrant, eye- catching patterns in union with beach stripes and patterns.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
Verb
Almost overnight, interest rates shot up, catching many investors off guard with no way to refinance.
—Chay Lapin, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Clark sustained the injury after catching a slant pattern late in the second quarter of Saturday’s 38-24 win against Florida Atlantic, as a defender’s helmet clashed with Clark’s knee.
—Greg Luca, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
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Raw milk and some types of raw cheese can be a source of many kinds of germs, and lab tests show that bird flu virus in raw milk can be infectious.CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024
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Taking place in a heavily quarantine world, a 'rage virus' was unwittingly released from an animal testing facility and unleashed on the public, turning them into vicious, cannibalistic killers with highly infectious properties.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Corporate sustainability has emerged in recent years as a complex narrative of contrasting tempos—a story of rapid, headline-grabbing shifts intertwined with deep, fundamental transformations.Dr. Alex Gold, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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Purdy got walloped with a clothesline hit in the fourth quarter while another Bears defender hit his torso, leaving the 49ers’ quarterback withering in pain on his back and grabbing at his facemask.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Nothing is stopping you from trying out things.Adam Fayed, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Freezing foods below 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius) keeps them safe for longer by stopping bacterial growth.Merve Ceylan, Health, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This model also appeals to collectors who seek to own part of a brand’s heritage while securing access to limited releases that provide the potential for significant value increases over time.Anthony Zhang, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Over the past two decades, IT leaders have focused on securing project approvals and assembling top talent to drive success.Barry Cousins, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Trust Exercise, by Susan Choi Readers who came to Choi’s novel Trust Exercise in 2019, when it was first published, had the enviable experience of encountering its narrative acrobatics with no preparation.Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
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After encountering Tucker, the officers ran after him, and one of the officers fired their weapon at the teen, who was then given first aid and transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Hanage foresees wastewater analysis being used to track other communicable viruses, like mpox.Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2024
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This misconception tends to be due to the rise in influenza and other communicable respiratory infections in the colder months.Patty Weasler, RN, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Vaccination has prevented billions of children from contracting this disabling and life-threatening disease and is the only way to wipe out polio completely.Cynthia Tully, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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Camilla, 77, was forced to cancel a number of public engagements after contracting a chest infection in November.Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The judge issued a preliminary injunction halting the deal, which the companies can appeal.Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
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Over-blanching cooks the vegetable, while under-blanching stimulates enzyme activity instead of halting it.Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near catching
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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