catch on

verb

caught on; catching on; catches on
Synonyms of catch onnext

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Though mortally wounded, Diller managed to rip the gun out of the shooter’s hand, a final act of courage that also was caught on camera. Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026 Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip. Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026 Police say the whole thing was caught on the home's security camera system and ultimately led to Lucas' arrest. Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026 Hopefully this is another trend that catches on. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catch on

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of catch on was in 1882

Cite this Entry

“Catch on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch%20on. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on catch on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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