catch out

verb

caught out; catching out; catches out

transitive verb

1

: to detect in error or wrongdoing

caught him out committing perjury

2

: to take unawares or by surprise

Examples of catch out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And so the record is divided between tracks that capture the rush of losing yourself in a sea of bodies and the pain of being caught out at last call with no one to return home to. — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026

Young and McMillan were just playing pitch and catch out there. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

As fishermen wrestled their catches out of flimsy fiberglass boats near a makeshift shoreside market recently, several stopped to talk with CNN, complaining that the war is ruining business. — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

The Audi pair almost had a similar problem when Gabriel Bortoleto spun on a greasy but drying track that also caught out and wrecked Verstappen on the opening lap. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for catch out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout