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

Synonyms

• ascertain
• discover
• find out
• get on (to)
• hear
• learn
• realize
• see
• wise (up)

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

In 2014, he was caught on camera threatening an NY 1 TV reporter President Donald Trump has pardoned former New York Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican who resigned after being convicted of tax fraud, the White House official confirmed to USA TODAY on background. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 29 May 2025

The musical, with a score sung entirely in Spanish, has caught on with audiences. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 May 2025

Don’t let your child wear or play with anything that could get caught on equipment and become a strangulation hazard. —Dr. Julie Gilchrist, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025

Police in Boston, Massachusetts, identified a man allegedly caught on camera hitting someone's car with a hatchet in an apparent road rage incident. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for catch on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

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