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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
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4
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
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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
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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
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2
as in prize
someone or something unusually desirable
everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch
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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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of catch
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
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
See All Example Sentences for 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
See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
Verb
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Rams: After winning the 2024 draft, their biggest news this year was Sean McVay & Co. grabbing the Falcons’ 2026 first-round pick.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
Marsh male warbler simultaneously serenades its partner while grabbing a quick snack.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Pickens also got into arguments with fans in the stands.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2025
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Ava rises at dawn to get a makeover at the mall to prepare to see her gorgeous, successful ex-girlfriend.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
9 May 2025
Verb
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Commentary: Is Trump's plan for tariff relief for automakers too late to stop global impact?—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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At school the next day, he was treated as an art piece, in which his classmates stopped and stared.—
Akili King,
Essence,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In his first 100 days in office, Trump secured the release of dozens of Americans held hostage across the globe, including Keith Siegel, who was taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, and Marc Fogel, an American teacher taken captive in Russia.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
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Feely highlighted the administration’s efforts to secure the border and crackdown on immigration, in addition to other measures.—
Lauren Irwin,
The Hill,
1 May 2025
Verb
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The channel is known for its over-the-top stunts and contests.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
5 May 2025
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The two probably are best known for their collaboration on Silver Linings Playbook.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
5 May 2025
Verb
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The latest attacks follow recent patterns, mimicking Google’s own support to trick users into giving up credentials.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
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Elsewhere in the film, the Irish vampire Remmick, pursued by Choctaw vampire hunters, tricks his way into the protection of a pair of Klan members living near Clarksdale and turns them into creatures of the night.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2025
Verb
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On the contrary, all the inputs people encounter, by choice or by circumstance—the news reports, the novels, the films, the celebrities, the radio shows, the billboards, the histories, the satires, the amusements, the truths, the lies—tend to end up in the same place.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
29 Apr. 2025
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This underperformance is partly attributable to the issues encountered by its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in China due to lower demand.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But editors noticed that this cake went beyond the classic grocery store flavors with a unique layer of filling in the center.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
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Rosario said he's noticed an increase in Latino jockeys over the last two decades.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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