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
-
For the Diamondbacks, the first part of a potential sell-off has become realized.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
25 July 2025 -
One of the most heartbreaking things about growing up and becoming an adult is realizing that your infallible role models are just as human and as flawed as everyone else – sometimes more so in the slightly unhinged world of professional wrestling.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
That gap can cause marketing to keep optimizing based on CPC or CPL without knowing which leads actually move forward in the funnel.—
Ron Browning,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
Passing motorists discovered the crash at around 6:37 a.m., and the Geneva Police Department, Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Geneva and Batavia fire departments responded to the crash.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
-
Leave behind New York’s stifling policies and discover a state where your ambition can soar.—
Mike Dunleavy,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
The human role is now to understand what to ask the models for the best results, and to iron out the inevitable problems that crop up along the way.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
15 July 2025
-
With millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok and Substack, the platform is positioned towards helping young people better understand the news, with regular free newsletters and podcasts.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
At Holland State Park, which is run by the state and hasn’t seen lifeguards in three decades, there’s talk among Park Township officials of implementing a lifeguard pilot program.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
-
In the photo, the Hollywood actress is seen with her hands on her hips, eyes closed and smiling for the camera while reportedly being kissed on the forehead by singer J Balvin.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Imagine walking into your doctor’s office feeling sick – and rather than flipping through pages of your medical history or running tests that take days, your doctor instantly pulls together data from your health records, genetic profile and wearable devices to help decipher what’s wrong.—
Turgay Ayer,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
-
Throughout the 20th century, as ruins plunder shifted to protecting the cliff dwellings, archaeologists tried to decipher the remnants and make amends with the descendants, while understanding the ancient situation that prompted this mass migration.—
Mike Bezemek,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Their work has been recognized at leading festivals and programs including Sundance, TIFF, Tribeca and SXSW.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
14 July 2025
-
According to reports in the Ukrainian press, the A.I. had been trained to recognize targets using images of old Soviet warplanes on display in an aviation museum east of Kyiv.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
-
Investors will want to hear clear strategies from the hyperscalers .—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
25 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share