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
-
Barnard realized here was a machine that could make whole-food eating actually taste good.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026 -
The first $20 million of proceeds realized by the trust would go back to Saks Global to pay back the initial funding.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
According to the testimony of Raffaele Imperiale, an Italian cocaine trafficker and fellow Super Cartel member, Kinahan understood the unspoken rules of the city.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
What’s more, the LA jazz scene, at least as Bellerose understood it, felt like a relic, with old clubs like The Baked Potato catering more to tourists than adventurous musicians.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Highway signage along the American River, where gold was discovered by a sawmill operator named James Marshall in 1848; Route 49 connects California’s historic gold-rush boom towns.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The name came from one friend, Mike Basso, who remembered what another, Red Murff, a former big-league pitcher and longtime scout (who famously discovered Nolan Ryan), had taught them before passing — to be a keeper of the game.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
To a casual observer, the late-game pinch hitter stepping into the batter’s box Tuesday at Oswego East didn’t seem extraordinary, but Yorkville senior Brooke Ekwinski knew better.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The ominous buzzing of phones, the commingling of accomplishment and humiliation, the sudden pathos of cheap glass awards, the rage at their now-former CEO’s $11 million paycheck… David Frankel’s film knew exactly which buttons to push in our particular audience.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Before last year, Cecilia Alemani, the chief curator at the High Line, had never heard of—much less seen—a pigeon diaper.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
When House Bill 1359, which addressed scanning early voting ballots, was heard in the Senate Elections committee this year, the bill was amended to decrease early voting from 28 days to 16 days.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Scott recalled sitting in the waiting room and spotting a producer from the earlier film nearby, prompting him to try to avoid being recognized.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
2 May 2026
-
Queens Assistant District Attorney Kevin Timpone said the 16-year-old defendant and the shooter were riding the train when the victim — who recognized the teen from the prior shooting — ran up and started fighting with him.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The researchers then deciphered certain traits that were linked to the habit.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Kinsella was excited for Yates’ voice to be an easter egg—one of many voices to be deciphered by fans among a scream-singing chorus.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Participants learned the locations of fifty objects; each was associated with a distinct noise.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
Investigators later learned Hissom and her male passenger, who was wounded, were caught in a crossfire as a group of four or five men grabbed weapons from a vehicle and began firing at each other.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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
“Caught on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caught%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
