catch 1 of 2

verb

ˈkach How to pronounce catch (audio)
Definition of catchnext
1
as in to grab
to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door

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2
as in to get
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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3
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete

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4
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette

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5
as in to know
to have a clear idea of I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy

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6
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story

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7
as in to encounter
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face I'll catch you at the library tomorrow

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8
as in to notice
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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9
as in to chase
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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catch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in hitch
a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow

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2
as in prize
someone or something unusually desirable everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch

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3
as in haul
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb catch contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of catch are bag, capture, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words 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

Where would bag be a reasonable alternative to catch?

The words bag and catch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is capture a more appropriate choice than catch?

While the synonyms capture and catch are close in meaning, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

How are the words entrap and ensnare related as synonyms of catch?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for catch?

Trap, snare, entrap, and 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of catch
Verb
But the first full trading week of the month saw stocks caught in November rains. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025 Ted is the type of guy whose angst drives his psychiatrist out of the room… the type of guy whose family jewels get caught in his zipper the night of his senior prom. —Caitlin White, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
Sheridan didn’t have to move though and made the easy catch save. —Austin White, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025 Campbell, one of the fastest men in college football, has six touchdown catches this season of 50 or more yards, including the 65-yard play that gave Sac State a 14-7 lead over the Vikings. —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
  1. grab
  2. get
  3. stop
  4. secure
  5. know
  6. trick
  7. encounter
  8. notice
Verb
  • However, Cena outsmarted him by grabbing the chair, throwing it next to Dom, and pretending to be down on the mat.
    — Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Security camera footage from a nearby apartment complex showed the naked man walking across the street prior to the incident, seemingly talking to himself and grabbing a sign, per NBC 4.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Their noise got loudest at night when the city became quiet.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • And Natalie is still justifiably concerned about her dad, calling him up during his night from hell and getting no information from him.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of get
Verb
  • On third-and-1 with seven seconds left, Schakel took the snap and tried to spike the ball, which would have stopped the clock and given his team one final play to go for the win.
    — Alex Valdes, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Among those who do use an advisor, 26% are considering switching and 18% may stop using an advisor altogether.
    — Robert Frank, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • England play their last two World Cup qualifiers over the next eight days, against Serbia and Albania, but have already secured their place at the finals and preparations are underway for the tournament.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The collaboration aligns with Japan’s broader strategy to secure a domestic EV battery supply chain and reduce dependence on China and South Korea.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of secure
Verb
  • The employees are all members of a union local known as University Professional Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119.
    — Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The account was not guarded by an extra layer of security known as multi-factor authentication.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of know
Verb
  • Mulching too early traps heat and tricks plant roots to remain active and produce new growth.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The barely believable but entirely true story saw gay rights activists trick their way into the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, London by dressing plainly and conservatively – one even went as far as dressing as nun, while another donned the garbs of a bishop.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Safety remains the top concern as trucks encounter unpredictable weather, road debris and human drivers.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • When encountered, moose should be given ample space and not approached, Van Hoose said.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • Teams that set meeting windows, encourage short breaks, and support ergonomic basics may notice steadier output and fewer end-of-week slumps, especially when people adjust lighting, seat height, and screen distance to reduce eye strain.
    — Jason Phillips, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
  • And when his hospital finally reopened, in February of the following year, doctors began noticing unexpected changes.
    — Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of notice

Phrases Containing catch

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catcalls
catch
catch-22
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Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on catch

Nglish: Translation of catch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catch

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