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

Expectations in the tourism industry and among hotel executives were much higher than what’s been realized so far.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Reaching for spray sunscreen every time Spray sunscreens are convenient, but Mercer said many people don’t realize how much product misses their skin during application.

— Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of realize

Verb

An area known for rough currents The 18-year-old’s body was found in the water just off the shore on the northwestern end of Horn Island, Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd said.

— Holly Yan, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Linnaea’s is known for its pastries, specialty coffees and its tranquil back patio.

— Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Since February, archaeologists have discovered eight human skeletons, bronze and gold jewelry, pottery and other artifacts indicating a ceremonial burial of wealthy people or members of the society’s upper classes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
The Art Newspaper reports that the bacteria was discovered during routine monthly testing earlier this week and that the institution quickly complied with the city’s remediation requirements.

— News Desk, Artforum, 10 July 2026

Definition of discover

Verb

As some participants vow to be crucified in exchange for family members’ recovery from ill health, panata is also understood as a sacrifice made out of love for others in the community.

— H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
The study was conducted to better understand the true prevalence and distribution of alpha-gal IgE, antibodies produced by the body to fight the presence of the sugar molecule alpha-gal.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Mercedes-Benz Stadium might never again see two comebacks like the ones engineered by Messi in Atlanta.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
She’s seen during a dance rehearsal, a silly social media clip, and onstage from their Lollapalooza set, the latter of which came before her announcement in February to step away from Katseye.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026

Definition of see

Verb

Jonestown afflicted Naipaul’s vision, his way of deciphering not just political manias but the dreariness of urban life, the perpetual doom of the nuclear-arms race.

— Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
Angela George The recount board is sticking around after business hours for now to tabulate ballots that needed to be duplicated after the voting machine could not read or decipher the ballot.

— Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 July 2026

Definition of decipher

Verb

Fedorov’s removal came as Russian missiles struck Kyiv early Thursday, with loud explosions heard in the Ukrainian capital just hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was set to arrive.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of hear

Verb

Rather than genetically engineering immune cells, as is sometimes done for other therapies, researchers identify T cells in the patient that naturally recognize three proteins that are found in many brain tumors.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 14 July 2026
The website received six nominations from the awards body, which recognizes excellence in arts and entertainment journalism.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 14 July 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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Style

“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of catch on (to)

verb

Example Sentences

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