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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The result is a category that’s far more varied than many drinkers realize, ranging from classic rye-forward blends to dessert-style cream whiskies to smoky single malts coming out of British Columbia.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026 -
Of course, Aleksander doesn't realize Zora is hunting them back — and both of their obsession might prove their downfall.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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X-ray data revealed that the black hole is accreting material at roughly 13 times the Eddington limit, placing it among the fastest-growing black holes known at this mass scale.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Where has the medallion been discovered in past years?—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
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Yet, as any visitor stalled in traffic or fumbling for cash to top up a transit card discovers, the old Seoul persists beneath the new.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Used by more than just psychiatrists, the DSM is considered the very foundation of how mental health issues are understood.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images MONTREAL — Cole Caufield arrived for his on-air interview between the second and third periods Tuesday night understanding the exact situation in which his Montreal Canadiens found themselves.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Al-Maliki ended his second term in 2014 after the Obama administration’s growing frustration with his security blind spots that saw the rise of the Islamic State in the same year across a large swathe of Iraqi and Syrian territory.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Someone who should not stumble into this, who should not have to see the grave of her loved one defaced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But this can be tricky to decipher without a medical degree.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
21 Jan. 2026
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So, the thinking went, every costume, prop, and line reading is there for a reason, infinite symbolism scattered across the frame for anyone determined enough to decipher it.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In the Arctic, leadership means recognizing that Greenland is not a curiosity or a punchline.—
Paul McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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Even smart organizations that do listen to customers often fixate on willingness to pay, rarely questioning what shapes it or recognizing its limits.—
Esade Business & Law School,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead of music, guests heard radio broadcasts and chatter, as the goal was to make Black Spire Outpost feel rugged and lived-in.—
Todd Martens,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
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And then the first shot is heard.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
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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 29 Jan. 2026.
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