Synonyms of catch

catch 1 of 2

verb

ˈkach 

1

as in to grab

to take physical control or possession of (something) suddenly or forcibly

we tried to catch the kitten before she could sneak out the door

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grab
• snatch
• capture
• get
• seize
• snag
• trap
• nab
• land
• hook
• snare
• take hold (of)
• corral
• snap (up)
• net
• grapple
• cop
• rap
• bag
• nail
• collar
• hold
• glom
• grasp
• nobble
• apprehend
• arrest
• rope
• detain
• clutch
• glove
• grip
• lasso
• secure
• kidnap
• bay
• ensnare
• fist
• corner
• entrap
• clasp
• rend
• abduct
• fasten (on)
• wrest
• latch (on or onto)
• entangle
• halter
• mesh
• enmesh
• spirit (away or off)
• immesh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• release
• discharge
• free
• drop
• liberate
• loosen
• unhand

2

as in to get

to become affected with (a disease or disorder)

you'll catch the flu for sure if you don't get a shot

Synonyms & Similar Words

• get
• take
• contract
• come down (with)
• go down (with)
• sicken (with)
• break out (with)
• die (from)
• succumb (to)
• fail
• waste (away)
• wilt
• weaken
• languish
• worsen
• sink
• wither

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• gain
• come back
• heal
• recoup
• mend
• recover (from)
• recuperate
• shake (off)
• snap back
• rally
• rebound

3

as in to stop

to bring (something) to a standstill

I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• halt
• stall
• check
• stay
• arrest
• block
• draw up
• pull up
• hinder
• hold
• still
• suspend
• bring up
• hold up
• snag
• impede
• fetch up
• obstruct
• end
• detain
• conclude
• stem
• hold back
• balk
• cut off
• terminate
• clog
• dam
• suppress
• call
• baffle
• discontinue
• turn back
• repress
• rein (in)
• bottleneck
• blockade
• choke off
• squelch
• stunt
• staunch
• squash
• stanch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep (on)
• carry on
• persist
• run on
• keep up
• move
• proceed
• advance
• progress
• march
• fare
• push
• go along
• drive
• stir
• follow through (with)
• spur
• propel
• budge
• wend
• actuate
• goad
• impel

4

as in to secure

to put securely in place or in a desired position

caught back her hair with a barrette

Synonyms & Similar Words

• secure
• fasten
• hitch
• clamp
• anchor
• fix
• set
• moor
• stuff
• embed
• imbed
• wedge
• lodge
• entrench
• implant
• intrench
• engrain
• ingrain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosen
• loose
• pull
• unfasten
• extract
• prize
• tear (out)
• pry
• unloose
• yank
• uproot
• wrest
• unfix
• unloosen
• root (out)

5

as in to know

to have a clear idea of

I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• know
• understand
• see
• decipher
• recognize
• grasp
• get
• appreciate
• comprehend
• realize
• discern
• perceive
• seize
• make
• apprehend
• sense
• conceive
• dig
• assimilate
• register
• make out
• catch on (to)
• decode
• tumble (to)
• cotton (to or on to)
• behold
• twig
• pick up on
• intuit
• compass
• absorb
• grok
• savvy
• cognize
• digest
• take in
• fathom
• penetrate
• pierce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• misunderstand
• misread
• mistake
• misinterpret
• misconstrue
• misperceive
• misconceive
• misapprehend

6

as in to trick

to cause to believe what is untrue

a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trick
• deceive
• fool
• tease
• kid
• mislead
• juggle
• sucker
• delude
• dupe
• gull
• sting
• misguide
• hoodwink
• bamboozle
• suck in
• gaff
• cheat
• take in
• burn
• misinform
• have
• bluff
• beguile
• snow
• string along
• have on
• con
• spoof
• buffalo
• hoax
• cozen
• gammon
• pull one's leg
• fake out
• humbug
• snooker
• hornswoggle
• stick
• do a number on
• lead one up the garden path
• lead one down the garden path
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• put on
• defraud
• shortchange
• squeeze
• swindle
• hustle
• bleed
• chisel
• rook
• diddle
• fleece
• mulct
• skin
• euchre
• flimflam

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reveal
• expose
• uncover
• undeceive
• show up
• tell
• unmask
• disclose
• debunk
• divulge
• unveil
• disabuse
• uncloak
• disillusion
• disenchant

7

as in to encounter

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face

I'll catch you at the library tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• encounter
• meet
• confront
• greet
• run upon
• run into
• stumble (upon)
• run across
• happen (upon)
• bump into
• chance (upon)
• cross paths (with)
• accost
• pass
• face
• salute
• cross
• collide (with)
• hit (upon)
• crash (into)
• crisscross
• tumble (to)
• light (upon)
• remeet
• reencounter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• escape
• evade
• shake
• elude
• shun
• dodge
• duck

8

as in to notice

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes

I looked out the window just in time to catch the neighbor's dog digging up my flower bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• notice
• see
• spot
• eye
• regard
• watch
• sight
• observe
• look (at)
• view
• perceive
• discern
• remark
• distinguish
• witness
• note
• spy
• behold
• espy
• get a load of
• identify
• descry
• set eyes on
• lay eyes on
• pick out
• glimpse
• consider
• heed
• scan
• inspect
• attend (to)
• make out
• examine
• scrutinize
• mark
• study
• survey
• pick up
• mind
• glance (at)
• peer (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• disregard
• pass over
• miss
• neglect
• overlook
• overpass

9

as in to chase

to move fast enough to get even with

despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chase
• overtake
• catch up (with)
• reach
• pursue
• overhaul
• pass
• gain
• surpass

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fall short

catch

2 of 2

noun

1

as in hitch

a danger or difficulty that is hidden or not easily recognized

the catch is that you have to come up with the money by tomorrow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hitch
• snag
• risk
• land mine
• kicker
• booby trap
• pitfall
• gotcha
• gimmick
• snare
• joker
• trap
• trip wire
• surprise
• web
• hazard
• surprize
• catch-22
• bait
• bomb
• lure
• peril
• decoy
• bombshell

2

as in prize

someone or something unusually desirable

everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prize
• gem
• treasure
• jewel
• find
• plum
• pearl
• blessing
• spoil
• valuable
• windfall
• brass ring
• booty
• godsend
• swag
• plunder
• goodie
• loot
• gold
• treasure trove
• goody
• prize money
• jackpot
• glory
• pride

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lemon
• loser

3

as in haul

the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time

the total catch for our day at the creek was six fish and a crab

Synonyms & Similar Words

• haul
• yield
• bounty
• proceeds
• earnings
• take
• profit
• revenue
• gain
• bag
• return
• income
• receipts
• payoff
• net
• spoils
• loot
• winnings
• collection
• gross
• booty
• swag
• plunder
• appropriation

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loss
• deduction
• subtraction

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb catch contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of catch are bag, capture, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.

caught the dog as it ran by

Where would bag be a reasonable alternative to catch?

The words bag and catch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.

bagged a brace of pheasants

When is capture a more appropriate choice than catch?

While the synonyms capture and catch are close in meaning, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

How are the words entrap and ensnare related as synonyms of catch?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question

a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for catch?

Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.

trap animals

snared butterflies with a net

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of catch

Verb

The alleged thieves were caught and their trial began this week. —Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025

At least 40 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured when an area filled with shipping containers caught fire and exploded, sending a huge plume of thick smoke into the air. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025

Noun

But there’s a bit of a catch: This cellular process can irritate eczema-prone skin. —Sierra Leone Starks, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025

He’s been biding his time since then, throwing plyometric balls in third inning of games, working the bands in the fifth and playing catch with the wall in the seventh, just in case. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing catch

• catch fire
• catch on (to)
• catch one's breath
• catch one's eye
• catch up
• catch up (with)