1
as in grabs
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gets
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stops
to bring (something) to a standstill
I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in secures
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in knows
to have a clear idea of
I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in deceives
to cause to believe what is untrue
a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in encounters
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in notices
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in overtakes
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hitches
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
2
as in prizes
someone or something unusually desirable
everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in yields
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of catches
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Helm catches glimpses of the humans.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Someone’s spark, a random detail catches your imagination.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
This 20-year checkpoint catches the band, punched up with a stellar horn section onstage, not falling on its back foot but hitting a comfortable stride.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 3 Nov. 2025
How crypto founders can get rich quick Crypto founders are enjoying soaring valuations as the market catches fire by utilizing secondary sales, which allow investors to purchase shares of a company from the founder itself.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
No more market gluts that spoil catches or result in mushy frozen filets.
—Amanda Leland, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Frost that catches you unawares can be devastating—at least to certain plants.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Nobody catches it for week, until someone scrapes customer addresses and posts them online.
—Daniel Fusch, Ascend Agency, 28 Oct. 2025
James Boyd, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Through the first seven games of the season, the three-time Pro-Bowl WR has 29 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Kelce had four catches for 66 yards in the loss.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Alejado has several reliable pass catchers, led by wide receivers Pofele Ashlock (55 catches, 598 yards, 6 TDs), Jackson Harris (35-601, 7 TDs) and running back Landon Sims (30-231, 2 TDs).
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
The former Steelers malcontent came up huge when CeeDee Lamb went down with injury, with 43 catches for 685 yards and six TDs.
—Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Cody Lambert had catches for 19 yards on the game-winning drive.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Helm catches glimpses of the humans.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Someone’s spark, a random detail catches your imagination.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
This 20-year checkpoint catches the band, punched up with a stellar horn section onstage, not falling on its back foot but hitting a comfortable stride.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 3 Nov. 2025
How crypto founders can get rich quick Crypto founders are enjoying soaring valuations as the market catches fire by utilizing secondary sales, which allow investors to purchase shares of a company from the founder itself.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 31 Oct. 2025
No more market gluts that spoil catches or result in mushy frozen filets.
—Amanda Leland, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Frost that catches you unawares can be devastating—at least to certain plants.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Nobody catches it for week, until someone scrapes customer addresses and posts them online.
—Daniel Fusch, Ascend Agency, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Mitchell played just 24 offensive snaps over the last four games and recorded two catches for 15 yards on four targets.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025
Through the first seven games of the season, the three-time Pro-Bowl WR has 29 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Kelce had four catches for 66 yards in the loss.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Alejado has several reliable pass catchers, led by wide receivers Pofele Ashlock (55 catches, 598 yards, 6 TDs), Jackson Harris (35-601, 7 TDs) and running back Landon Sims (30-231, 2 TDs).
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
The former Steelers malcontent came up huge when CeeDee Lamb went down with injury, with 43 catches for 685 yards and six TDs.
—Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Cody Lambert had catches for 19 yards on the game-winning drive.
—Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catches
Verb
-
After Grace quotes Zooey Deschanel's character, Thames grabs her face and kisses her out of the frame.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Another strong Lions performance could mark a turning point this season where Detroit grabs control of the division and doesn't look back.—
Nick Meyer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
So who gets the political heat, so to speak, for the cost of electricity?—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The menu gets creative with dishes like Thai shrimp curry with plantains, but the star remains its signature bobó de lagosta, a rich lobster stew and northeastern classic.—
Carla Vianna,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The elevator stops at each floor and a new ghostly guest arrives offering some insight into Will’s plan.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Some gardeners choose to pinch those old flowers away every day to enhance the look of their plants, while others decide to wait until the entire flower scape stops blooming to cut the scape stem down to the soil line.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
These comments are important because our government must place premium in creating a society that respects human lives, secures its borders and protects its citizens.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Whoever controls the electromagnetic spectrum, secures the provenance of data, and fields resilient sensing systems will shape not only military outcomes but the political economy of the coming decades.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Bo knows Before Game 6, Bichette strayed from a script every player reads in their platform year.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Everyone knows about LeBron James, Steph Curry and those top-level superstars.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fragmentary Ni 12501 tablet from the Early Dynastic III period of Mesopotamia breaks off when Fox deceives the inhabitants of the netherworld in his quest to retrieve the storm god Ishkur.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Luckily, Dek soon encounters a legless android named Thia, played with pluck by Elle Fanning.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
-
By waiting, Florida now encounters competition for Kiffin.—
Blake Toppmeyer,
USA TODAY,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Objects Are Mirrors Don’t describe a room — describe what that character notices in that room.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
-
During the clip, the owner notices a large chunk has been ripped (or bitten) out of the flooring, and there’s only one suspect hovering around nearby.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catches. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share