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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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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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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of catch
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
6 July 2026
For years, the motorcycle industry has been caught in an arms race.
—
New Atlas,
6 July 2026
Miami Herald,
5 July 2026
Still, there is also a growing body of evidence that remote work may not be a catch-all solution.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for catch
Verb
Drivers caught running a red light will face a $75 civil penalty.
—
Laura Horne,
Charlotte Observer,
6 July 2026
For years, the motorcycle industry has been caught in an arms race.
—
New Atlas,
6 July 2026
Noun
From four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to one year with 100 catches to a Pro Bowl appearance, Lockett brings a similar leadership acumen to a team in dire need of it.
—
Miami Herald,
5 July 2026
Still, there is also a growing body of evidence that remote work may not be a catch-all solution.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
Verb
-
Schieffelin, who played football last season because had used up his basketball eligibility, used his bulky frame to grab eight rebounds on an 11-point night.
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Once the excitement had died down, the team gathered in a circle and a player went up to Haaland, grabbed the back of his neck and kissed his cheek.
Verb
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One thing everyone agrees on, though, is that airfare is likely to keep getting more expensive.
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And the research proves that this type of bias is only getting worse.
Verb
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When there was a pause in the action, referee Raphael Claus stopped the match to look at VAR to determine whether Balogun committed a foul worthy of a red card.
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Making new friends isn’t something that has to stop at a certain point in your life.
Verb
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Chapman allowed back-to-back singles after his milestone strikeout, but got Jo Adell to ground into a double play to secure his 17th save.
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Chapman gave up back-to-back singles after his milestone strikeout, but got Jo Adell to ground into a double play to secure his 17th save.
Verb
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Cape Verde 40-year-old goalkeeper Josimar Jose Evora Dias, also known as Vozinha, became a fan favorite along the way.
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Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families.
Verb
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These fraudulent sites often mimic legitimate stores or rank high in search results, tricking desperate consumers into buying non-existent AC units.
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The revenge story saw Tucker's exes convincing Snow's Kate to trick the ladies' man into falling in love with her.
Verb
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Each has plays — like a slow-roller up the third base line that requires a quick throw across the diamond — that no other position will encounter.
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The first time former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice encountered Kevin Warsh was in the 1980s.
Verb
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Court documents say witnesses noticed Lopez acting strangely before the attack.
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Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
Cite this Entry
“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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