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

The couple had purchased their extra-wide, 3,600-square-foot house after realizing their initial dream, a historic brownstone, felt a little too compressed.

— Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026
What many people enjoying these beaches don't realize is that this iconic stretch of sand is also a critical line of defense—a massive engineering shield protecting our vital infrastructure.

— Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of realize

Verb

Can the letter writer let sister know her fuss over food and product choices for 4-year-old nephew is hard to watch?

— Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
Speaking of nail-biters, Marisa Berenson, better known for her roles in front of the camera, is in the process of putting together her own movie project.

— Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

The discovery is the latest instance of CDE leadership telling employees bedbugs are not in the building, only for more to be discovered at a later date and igniting doubt among CDE’s workforce on whether treatment is effective.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
The problem Zhou discovered when MadaData collapsed has not gone away.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of discover

Verb

For some reason--some great reason, that only the editors on the other side of the room understand--the reporters for at least the Democrat-Gazette's story (unlike some national outlets) decided to call Skip Rutherford.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Firms like Edward Jones and LPL Financial, meanwhile, are rapidly adopting AI tools to gain financial insights, but also to better understand and communicate with their customers.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Romanoff sacrifices herself to retrieve the soul stone, and Nebula involuntarily connects with her past self—a connection used by a past Thanos to decipher the Avengers’ plan.

— Michael McDonough, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of decipher

Verb

The person who heard the communications spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
Inspired by his legacy, cofounders George and Amal Clooney created the Albies to ensure that the people doing the hardest work to promote justice — often far from the spotlight — are seen, heard and protected.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hear

Verb

Lourdes became a major pilgrimage destination after the Catholic Church officially recognized visions of the Virgin Mary reported here by a young girl in 1858.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Interim peace accords in the 1990s recognized their water rights but preserved a system that allocated some 80% of water pumped from the main aquifer for Israeli use.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 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

Style

“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of catch on (to)

verb

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