1
as in to realize
to come to an awareness of
she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to know
to have a clear idea of
he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch on (to)
Verb
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This tells us that the moon was volcanically active for much longer than scientists had realized — perhaps as recently as 120 million years ago.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
14 May 2025 -
The Trump administration seems at long last to have realized that having a near-embargo in both directions between the world’s two largest economies isn’t such a great idea.—
The Editors,
National Review,
14 May 2025
Verb
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On May 9, a swarm of what are believed to be Africanized honey bees, also known as killer bees, attacked and killed three horses in Comanche, Texas, just about 50 miles southeast of Eastland.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Barnett is best known for his participation in the first season of Love Island USA, which premiered in 2019.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
Verb
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After following up with participants, researchers discovered that 1,407 received a heart failure diagnosis.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
Health,
16 May 2025
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Aicha discovers that Ruby had been there with a man driving a Porsche Taycan Turbo.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
16 May 2025
Verb
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To understand what’s at stake amid the NNSA’s workforce woes, USA TODAY interviewed current and former agency officials and reviewed decades of watchdog reports, safety records and other official documents.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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The realtor also pulled permits to help determine a timeline of events to understand when some of the damage occurred.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Back to battle once again for their lives and a giant cash prize, the wordless preview sees contestants facing a series of high-stakes situations, involving guns, fists and an ominous giant gumball machine.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Southern Baptist churches lost more than a quarter-million members nationwide in 2024, the 18th straight year of decline, but saw baptism and attendance numbers rise.—
Frank E. Lockwood,
Arkansas Online,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Instead of administrators spending countless hours deciphering page after page of information and increasing risk of errors being made, AI agents are powering document capture for a better, more efficient way to work.—
Navaneeth Nair,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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In early May, the Vesuvius Challenge announced that contestants Marcel Roth and Micha Nowak, computer scientists at Germany’s University of Würzburg, would receive $60,000 for deciphering the title.—
Ellen Wexler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
Verb
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They were both recognized by the Recording Academy for Melodrama when it was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2018 Grammy Awards.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
15 May 2025
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The Michigan governor’s comments on Biden come after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was asked about the new book, which states that Biden did not recognize Hollywood icon George Clooney.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2025
Verb
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His frustrations are drawing all of the attention regarding the Red Sox, and one former Red Sox legend is tired of hearing about it.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
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Myth: Exposure to cicada noise will cause hearing loss As the second-largest periodical cicada, Brood XIV can make a lot of noise when the male cicadas attempt to attract mates with their buzzing sounds.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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