CATCH ON (TO) Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

catch on (to)

verb

Definition of catch on (to)

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

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

Within days of the initial border rush, in which at least 90 people died, most migrants went back to Morocco, realizing the difficulties of staying in Ceuta and their slim chances of reaching mainland Europe.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
It’s been a long and hard journey since Honda announced its return as a full F1 PU manufacturer with Aston in 2023, but tensions peaked in Australia when both parties, along with the rest of the world, realized just how dire things were.

— Jerry Perez, The Drive, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of realize

Verb

That included conversations with people within the Seahawks organization who know him, most notably backup quarterback Jalen Milroe, who played with Arnold at Alabama.

— Tobias Bass, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Accessible only by boat and completely untouched, CNN’s Leroy Ah Ben explores this gem known mostly to locals.

— Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
The researchers then discovered that the second population of neurons, called Ddah1+ neurons, responded to stress.

— Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of discover

Verb

The team says understanding why the impurities do not prevent the formation of high-quality pyrite could help guide the development of similar materials from abundant resources.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Yet Rosenwald understood that people who command such great resources also have a responsibility to use these resources to help others.

— Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Recent months have seen an expansion of Russian missile attacks all across Ukraine, as officials in Kyiv warn that Ukrainian stocks of anti-missile interceptor munitions are dangerously low and, in some cases, exhausted.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Check the offer page to see which hotels are offering the discount—you’ll be happy to see fan favorites like Disney’s Grand Floridian and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge on the list!

— Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of see

Verb

When a product is recalled, a human being — an inspector, a store associate or a customer — needs to decipher the bin and lot number to determine whether a product is safe or dangerous.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Western San Gabriel Mountains/Highway 14 Corridor When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial.

— Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 30 July 2026

Definition of decipher

Verb

Patterson wasn’t in court to hear the proceedings but listened to the arguments via a video link from a maximum-security prison.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
After hearing four days of testimony, a Collin County jury found Anthony, 19, guilty of murder following three hours of deliberation on June 9.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of hear

Verb

As of August, Maroma officially begins to accommodate guests again following a soft opening, and those familiar with the property will recognize many of the same staff, many of whom possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the hotel and wider region.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
Subsequent drills eliminate even more candidates, but not Shannon (Shannon Hayes), a local Richmond soccer enthusiast whom Ted recognizes and greets by name.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of recognize

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.

Browse Nearby Words

catch one's eye

catch on (to)

catchpenny

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of catch on (to)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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