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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of catching
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
The left-handed hitting backstop has been touted for his offense and is considered one of the best young catching prospects in the game.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Dalton Rushing began his rehab assignment with OKC on Thursday, catching nine innings and going 1 for 4 with a double.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
Carlos Narvaez will return to the starting lineup on Monday, but the Red Sox are adding some extra catching depth anyway.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
The left-handed hitting backstop has been touted for his offense and is considered one of the best young catching prospects in the game.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Joseph Ellis added 64 yards on four carries, scoring once on the ground and catching a TD pass.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Dalton Rushing began his rehab assignment with OKC on Thursday, catching nine innings and going 1 for 4 with a double.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
The infectious energy and Justin Bieber-style appeal of 25-year-old country hitmaker Bailey Zimmerman was not reflected in the CMA nominations.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
For example, a range of different infectious pathogens and diseases can lead to different chronic medical conditions such as COVID-19 leading to long COVID, human papillomavirus to cervical cancer, Helicobacter pylori to stomach ulcers and cancer, Epstein-Barr Virus to lymphoma.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After grabbing an early lead Friday evening, the Royals were unable to match their hosts’ prolific offense on Friday.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The owner squeezed her hands into the mix of kittens, moving the babies and grabbing the one that did not belong, which turned out to be a tiny mouse.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
So, Hilleary will be in the odd position of facing a significant pay cut for getting a big promotion on Capitol Hill.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
How would Trump react to his administration now getting to decide the fate of CNN?—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
To my surprise, Gary Friedman, the CEO and visionary behind the brand, was in the restaurant, casually moving between tables and greeting guests before graciously stopping at ours.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
One video was a loop showing the moment of impact in slow-motion, stopping before blood is seen.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And then the push into space is just a step towards securing a future for generations to come.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Many are signaling a willingness to dig in during this round of funding negotiations after many, including Schumer, got blowback from the Democratic base for delivering the votes to offset a March shutdown without securing any substantial GOP concessions.—
Allison Pecorin,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps, though, Kubrick's cold view of Jack and choice to diminish some of King's sympathetic nuances serve to heighten the terror; how much does knowing the complex motivations of a domestic abuser help their victims?—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
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Participants’ weight, waist size, and body mass index (BMI) were tracked, along with their performance on tests of memory, orientation (for example, knowing the date and who the president is), and executive function (such as drawing a clock face).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What does work is tricking her into pressing a button that knocks her out.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
-
While the Phantom Hacker attack is designed specifically to drain your bank accounts, there are plenty of variants relying on tricking you into installing dangerous software that either gives an attacker a view of your device or hijacks it completely.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Car accidents are statistically more common than encountering a defective medical device.—
Matt Lowe,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Research shows that new experiences—like stepping outside and encountering a new environment while working out—trigger the brain's reward system.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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