CATCHING ON (TO) Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

catching on (to)

verb

present participle of catch on (to)

as in realizing

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 knowing

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 catching on (to)

Verb

Jeanne O’Brien, one of the tourists on board, recalled realizing the plane was heading toward the dock moments before impact.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
This remains a very dangerous situation, as motorists may unknowingly drive into deep flood waters, not realizing the flooding is there due to the darkness.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of realizing

Verb

As record-breaking temperatures stretch on and air conditioners run for longer hours than usual, many homeowners are discovering just how quickly an aging or struggling HVAC system can become a major financial problem.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Four years later, and 30 5-star reviews and counting, all of those things are still true and readers are still discovering the joy of this Southern dessert.

— Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 July 2026

Definition of discovering

Verb

Order is restored to the kingdom through what is known as the Rumpelstiltskin effect, a term used by psychologists to describe the naming of something in order to create an illusion of understanding it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Why Boxwoods Turn Brown The key to saving a browning boxwood is understanding why its foliage is fading to begin with, as not all causes are necessarily bad.

— Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of understanding

Verb

And the actor believes there is a power in seeing only the before and aftermath of the killing.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
There was the guy Daemon stabbed through the ear, and then the smelly killers Gwayne sniffed out, and now Ser Adrian, who took a knife to the throat within seconds of seeing Aemond.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of seeing

Verb

Western San Gabriel Mountains/Highway 14 Corridor When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial.

— Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 30 July 2026
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

Definition of deciphering

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Browse Nearby Words

catching one's eye

catching on (to)

catching up

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Style

“Catching on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of catching on (to)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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