catch on (to)

verb

Definition of catch on (to)next
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)
  1. realize
  2. know
  3. discover
  4. understand
  5. see
  6. decipher
  7. hear
  8. recognize
Verb
  • An unlikely working relationship develops between an overzealous tech billionaire and a reluctant writer who realizes the only way to make artificial intelligence any better is to fix the broken real world it’s trained on.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
  • A lot of emotions came up and realizing your job, your title, your paycheck can be eliminated in a day, but your values and your purpose don't have to die in that spot.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of realize
Verb
  • The findings from the 2017 eclipse suggested another explanation, known as the diffraction-interference, might be responsible for shadow bands.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Raquel’s battling that same thing of just not really knowing how, but wanting to be in her version of being a good mom.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • Stringr The launch near where the trio was found is roughly seven miles southwest of a different boat launch, where a car belonging to one of the women was discovered with a window broken out, state police said in a statement Wednesday.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The Bronze Age tomb was discovered at Carrarzu Iddia, an archaeological site near the town of Macomer, as reported in Finestra Sull’Arte.
    — Leigh Anne Miller for ARTnews, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of discover
Verb
  • Furthermore, understanding compensation gaps helps identify valuable expertise and actionable development paths.
    — Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Not necessarily having control of it, but understanding what Kanan did and how this was going to come back to him.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • Wednesday's meeting saw more than 60 members of the public address the AQMD board to explain how the ongoing situation has affected them.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Washington hasn’t seen a race like this since Thomas Jefferson helped mark America’s 25th birthday on July 4, 1801.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • 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
  • The discovery began in 2024, when a representative of the monastery's preservation association asked Tornau to decipher the manuscript.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of decipher
Verb
  • At night, Ghaida hears Israeli drones overhead, despite the ceasefire.
    — Ava Bambuck, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Sarah Miller, a software engineer from the liberal stronghold of Madison, has heard all of the chatter about a civil war in the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of hear
Verb
  • Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards recognized several standout properties, with Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, earning the top spot among international wellness retreats for more than a decade.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The family’s case was rejected — despite being first and second generation, and despite Pedro Monasterios and his children having been recognized as citizens just a few years earlier.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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