1
as in realized
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 understood
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 caught on (to)
Verb
-
Much of that could be realized in a Chicago stadium not far from downtown.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026 -
Hair extensions — a styling staple for millions of women, particularly women of color — may contain far more potentially harmful chemicals than researchers once realized.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It must be understood that historical references to this team are like prompts on an online dating profile — not under any circumstances to be taken seriously, but a fun jumping off point.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The complication is not well understood but appears to be the result of the virus prompting the immune system to attack a certain protein that some brain cells produce.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The recall was triggered after inspectors discovered pieces of blue plastic in a production filter.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Though Vedam fought the conviction for decades, almost 40 years passed before a team of attorneys discovered prosecutors may have withheld evidence that could have impacted the jury’s decision in his case.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Company executives knew idle transmission lines could spark wildfires.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The skate, a shark relative that looks like a stingray, was no surprise since scientists already knew their range extended that far south.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
People block unwanted numbers, and no one under 30 has heard of the White Pages.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
He can often be heard on the From Our Own Correspondent programme on the BBC World Service and the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio Two.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Long considered lost — overlooked, neglected and nearly irretrievably altered over time — it was lovingly restored by designer Trina Turk and her late husband, Jonathan Skow, and recognized as an early Lautner in 2014.—
Hadley Meares,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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While many businesses offer Valentine’s Day promotions or special events, the day is not officially recognized by the federal government.—
Katey Psencik,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The sun dances to its own (currently less-than-deciphered) rhythms, moving through an 11-year-long cycle.—
Sarah Scoles,
Scientific American,
10 Dec. 2025
-
At first this voice from the heavens has seemingly sent a benign message but it’s quickly deciphered to be a DNA cocktail for Earthlings to investigate.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For years, this unspoken truth has hardened her, shaping her into a woman of precision and emotional distance — a mother who learned survival through silence.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Kanzi learned elements of language at a very young age.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Caught on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caught%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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