catch

1 of 2

verb

ˈkach 

ˈkech

caught ˈkȯt 

 also  ˈkät

; catching

transitive verb

1

a

: to capture or seize especially after pursuit

catch a thief

b

: to take or entangle in or as if in a snare

catch fish in a net

c

: deceive

d

: to discover unexpectedly : find

caught in the act

e

: to check (oneself) suddenly or momentarily

He started to say the wrong thing but quickly caught himself.

f

: to become suddenly aware of

caught me looking at him

2

a

: to take hold of : seize

He caught her by the arm as she tripped.

b

: to affect suddenly

The announcement caught me by surprise.

c

: to grasp and hold on to (something in motion)

catch a fly ball

d

: to avail oneself of : take

caught the first opportunity to leave

e

: to obtain through effort : get

catch a ride

f

: to overtake unexpectedly

—usually used in the passive

was caught in a storm

g

: to get entangled

catch a sleeve on a nail

3

: to become affected by: such as

a

: contract

catch a cold

b

: to respond sympathetically to the point of being imbued (see imbue sense 2) with

catch the spirit of an occasion

c

: to be struck by

He caught a bullet in the leg.

d

: to be subjected to : receive

catch hell

4

a

: to take in and retain

a barrel to catch rainwater

b

: fasten

catch back a curtain

5

: to take or get usually momentarily or quickly

catch a glimpse of a friend

catch a nap

6

a

: overtake

catch the leader in a race

b

: to get aboard in time

catch the bus

7

: to attract and hold : arrest, engage

caught their attention

The glint of the gold in each case caught my eye, you see.

—Arthur Conan Doyle

8

: to make contact with : strike

The pitch caught him in the back.

9

a

: to grasp by the senses or the mind

you catch what I mean?

didn't catch the name

b

: to apprehend and fix by artistic means

The new portrait catches her likeness perfectly.

10

a

: see, watch

catch a game on TV

b

: to listen to

caught the last part of the concert

11

: to serve as a catcher for in baseball

caught both ends of the doubleheader

12

: to meet with

catch you later

intransitive verb

1

: to grasp hastily or try to grasp

2

: to become caught

The kite caught in the tree branches.

3

: to catch fire

4

: to play the position of catcher on a baseball team

5

: kick over

the engine caught

catchable

ˈka-chə-bəl 

ˈke-

adjective

an easily catchable fly ball

catch

2 of 2

noun

1

: something caught

especially : the total quantity caught at one time

a large catch of fish

2

a

: the act, action, or fact of catching

The shortstop made a tough catch.

b

: a game in which a ball is thrown and caught

played catch with his dad

3

: something that checks or holds immovable

a safety catch

4

: one worth catching especially as a spouse

5

: a round for three or more unaccompanied usually male voices often with suggestive or obscene lyrics

6

: fragment, snatch

remembered only catches of the song

7

: a concealed difficulty or complication

there must be a catch

8

: a momentary audible break in the voice or breath

Phrases

catch a crab

: to fail to raise an oar clear of the water on recovery of a stroke

catch dead

: to find or see at any time

—used in strongly negative constructions

wouldn't be caught dead in that shirt

catch fire

1

: to become ignited

2

: to become fired with enthusiasm

3

: to increase greatly in scope, popularity, interest, or effectiveness

this stock has not caught fire—yet

—Forbes

catch it

: to incur blame, reprimand, or punishment

He'll really catch it from the boss if he's late again.

catch one's breath

: to rest long enough to restore normal breathing

broadly : to rest after a period of intense activity

Synonyms

Verb

• bag
• capture
• collar
• cop [slang]
• corral
• get
• glom
• grab
• grapple
• hook
• land
• nab
• nail
• net
• nobble [British slang]
• rap
• seize
• snag
• snap (up)
• snare
• snatch
• trap

Noun

• booby trap
• catch-22
• gimmick
• gotcha
• hitch
• joker
• land mine
• pitfall
• snag

Choose the Right Synonym for catch

catch, capture, trap, snare, entrap, ensnare, bag mean to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing.

catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

trap, snare, entrap, ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor.

trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals

snared butterflies with a net

entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question

a sting operation that ensnared burglars

bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

Examples of catch in a Sentence

Verb

Catch the ball and throw it to first base.

She caught the ball with one hand.

I dropped the book but managed to catch it before it hit the ground.

I'll throw you the keys. Ready? Catch!

He caught hold of her wrist.

The police are working hard to catch the criminals and put them in jail.

“I bet you can't catch me!” she yelled to her brother.

I once caught 10 fish in a single day.

In the summer, we would catch fireflies and put them in jars.

I caught her just as she was leaving for work.

Noun

The shortstop made a tough catch.

She used to play catch with her dad.

Let's play a game of catch.

a catch of about 20 fish

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That’s before considering the major uptick in international tourists bound for L.A. to catch the Games and explore the region. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024

None of them can catch the Pelicans for sixth in the West, but all four play-in spots are up for grabs. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024

Some people are still trying to catch their breath after spending on holiday shopping, which up-ticked an average of 14% more than 2022. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024

Monica Fish, a writer from Glen Rock, N.J., is headed to Ireland to catch one of Taylor Swift's performances. —Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

If caught by the British, he could be hanged as a traitor for signing the Declaration of Independence. —Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024

Last year, the Australian Capital Territory decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs, meaning people caught with the substances face fines and counseling rather than jail terms, while Queensland introduced a three-strike system. —Chris Lau, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

The Cavs won, meaning Miami cannot catch Cleveland in the standings. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

It was named Utopia by German settlers, who were said to have been fascinated by the abundance of rabbits that were easy to catch. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024

Noun

But there was a catch: fans and the country music industry have only allowed white artists to tweak the genre’s stylings. —TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

Kiper mocks him 53rd, calling him a big-play threat who averaged 17 yards per catch the past two seasons. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024

Either way, Main’s catch proves that Lake Erie is still producing plenty of whopper yellow perch. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 10 Apr. 2024

On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Harrison let a high fastball catch too much plate and Abrams launched it out of the park for his third home run of the season. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Rockies left fielder Nolan Jones raced over, desperate to make the catch. —Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Caples finished the scrimmage with three catches for 16 yards, and Chase Penry added three catches for 31 yards. —Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2024

Connolly is here to offer that capital, with a catch. —Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

His catch phrases became part of the American lexicon. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-French cacher, chacher, chacer to hunt, from Vulgar Latin *captiare, alteration of Latin captare to chase, frequentative of capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing catch

• basket catch
• catch (someone or something) by surprise
• catch up with
• catch-as-catch-can
• catch unawares/unprepared/by surprise
• catch at
• catch a break
• capture/catch someone's imagination
• catch-all
• catch someone's fancy
• catch one's drift
• catch out
• catch of the day
• catch/capture lightning in a bottle
• catch hell
• play catch-up
• catch (someone) unawares
• catch on
• catch someone's drift
• catch the imagination of
• fair catch
• catch up on
• catch (something) on camera
• shoestring catch
• grab/catch one's attention
• circus catch
• catch napping
• get/catch some sun
• catch up
• catch up to
• catch fire
• catch a crab
• catch it
• catch dead
• catch one's breath

Kids Definition

catch

1 of 2 verb

ˈkach 

ˈkech

caught ˈkȯt  ; catching

1

a

: to capture or seize in flight or motion

catch butterflies

catch a ball

b

: trap entry 2 sense 1a

2

a

: to discover unexpectedly

was caught in the act

b

: to stop suddenly

caught himself before he gave away the secret

3

: to take hold of : snatch

4

a

: to get entangled

catch a sleeve on a nail

b

: to have the parts connect firmly

this lock will not catch

c

: to attach, join, or fasten tightly

5

: to fall sick with

catch a cold

6

: to take or get for a short time or quickly

catch a glimpse of a friend

catch a little sleep

7

a

: to catch up to

will have to hurry to catch the leaders

b

: to get aboard in time

catch the bus

8

: understand sense 1a

didn't catch what she said

9

: to play baseball as a catcher

catch

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: something caught

b

: the quantity caught at one time

a large catch of fish

2

a

: the act of catching

b

: a pastime in which a ball is thrown and caught

3

: something that checks, fastens, or holds immovable

a catch on a door

4

: one worth discovering or finding

5

: a round for three or more voices

6

: a hidden difficulty

there must be a catch

Etymology

Verb

Middle English cacchen "to catch," from early French cacher "to hunt," derived from Latin captare "to chase," from capere "to take" — related to capture