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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For Lucy, that meant realizing that her dad had lied about his true intentions and his role in bombing Shady Sands.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026 -
When Myra’s true intentions come to light, however, Billy realizes her plan threatens to consume them both.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bass, who was politically weakened by her performance during the fire and its aftermath, was already facing more than two dozen challengers looking to oust her in the June 2 primary — the vast majority little known to the public and not expected to pose any threat.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
One note e-mailed Monday to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson included information that only the abductor would know, anchor Mary Coleman told CNN.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The homeowner later discovered the camera, and it was collected by police.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Lawmakers complained when the Justice Department made only a limited release last month, but officials said more time was needed to review an additional trove of documents that was discovered and to scour the records to ensure no sensitive information about victims was inadvertently released.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
London — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew, has moved out of his longtime Windsor home and is now a resident of Norfolk, England, CNN understands.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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That’s what’s gotta be understood.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Another source said the comedian was once frequently spotted around town over the summer but hasn't been seen since.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Ukrainian civilians are struggling with one of the coldest winters in years, which saw temperatures dip to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As an avalanche and dead bodies ratchet up the suspense, Zach must lean on his mother’s wisdom to fight for his life while deciphering a confusing undercurrent of danger, violence and betrayal among the survivors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But this can be tricky to decipher without a medical degree.—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even the winter sun seemed to recognize the gravity of the moment, breaking through the clouds to illuminate the private dining room for the entirety of that historic afternoon.—
Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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In recent news, FinalSpark’s Neuroplatform was accessed by a team from the University of Bristol this past summer to explore whether organoids can learn to recognize tactile information – aka Braille.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Garnett, a Biden appointee and former Manhattan federal prosecutor, ruled after hearing oral arguments earlier this month.—
MICHAEL R. SISAK,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Officials say Lynch's parents, who were in the backyard, heard the gunshots, found Lynch and Finn, and called 911.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
31 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 8 Feb. 2026.
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