catch
1 of 2verb
ˈkach 
ˈkech
caught ˈkȯt
also ˈkät
; catching transitive verb
1
a
: to capture or seize especially after pursuit
catch a thief
b
: to take or entangle in or as if in a snare
catch fish in a net
c
: deceive
d
: to discover unexpectedly : find
caught in the act
e
: to check (oneself) suddenly or momentarily
He started to say the wrong thing but quickly caught himself.
f
: to become suddenly aware of
caught me looking at him
2
a
: to take hold of : seize
He caught her by the arm as she tripped.
b
: to affect suddenly
The announcement caught me by surprise.
c
: to grasp and hold on to (something in motion)
catch a fly ball
d
: to avail oneself of : take
caught the first opportunity to leave
e
: to obtain through effort : get
catch a ride
f
: to overtake unexpectedly —usually used in the passive
was caught in a storm
g
: to get entangled
catch a sleeve on a nail
3
: to become affected by: such as
a
: contract
catch a cold
b
: to respond sympathetically to the point of being imbued (see imbue sense 2) with
catch the spirit of an occasion
c
: to be struck by
He caught a bullet in the leg.
d
: to be subjected to : receive
catch hell
4
a
: to take in and retain
a barrel to catch rainwater
b
: fasten
catch back a curtain
5
: to take or get usually momentarily or quickly
catch a glimpse of a friend
catch a nap
6
a
: overtake
catch the leader in a race
b
: to get aboard in time
catch the bus
7
: to attract and hold : arrest, engage
caught their attention
The glint of the gold in each case caught my eye, you see.—
Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle8
: to make contact with : strike
The pitch caught him in the back.
9
a
: to grasp by the senses or the mind
you catch what I mean?
didn't catch the name
b
: to apprehend and fix by artistic means
The new portrait catches her likeness perfectly.
10
a
: see, watch
catch a game on TV
b
: to listen to
caught the last part of the concert
11
: to serve as a catcher for in baseball
caught both ends of the doubleheader
12
: to meet with
catch you later
intransitive verb
1
: to grasp hastily or try to grasp
2
: to become caught
The kite caught in the tree branches.
3
: to catch fire
4
: to play the position of catcher on a baseball team
5
: kick over
the engine caught
catchable
ˈka-chə-bəl
adjective ˈke-
an easily catchable fly ball
catch
2 of 2noun
1
: something caught
especially : the total quantity caught at one time
a large catch of fish
2
a
: the act, action, or fact of catching
The shortstop made a tough catch.
b
: a game in which a ball is thrown and caught
played catch with his dad
3
: something that checks or holds immovable
a safety catch
4
: one worth catching especially as a spouse
5
: a round for three or more unaccompanied usually male voices often with suggestive or obscene lyrics
6
: fragment, snatch
remembered only catches of the song
7
: a concealed difficulty or complication
there must be a catch
8
: a momentary audible break in the voice or breath
Phrases
catch a crab : to fail to raise an oar clear of the water on recovery of a stroke
: to find or see at any time —used in strongly negative constructions
wouldn't be caught dead in that shirt
1
: to become ignited
2
: to become fired with enthusiasm
3
: to increase greatly in scope, popularity, interest, or effectiveness
this stock has not caught fire—yet—Forbes
Forbes : to incur blame, reprimand, or punishment
He'll really catch it from the boss if he's late again.
: to rest long enough to restore normal breathing
broadly : to rest after a period of intense activity
Synonyms
Verb
- bag
- capture
- collar
- cop [slang]
- corral
- get
- glom
- grab
- grapple
- hook
- land
- nab
- nail
- net
- nobble [British slang]
- rap
- seize
- snag
- snap (up)
- snare
- snatch
- trap
Noun
- booby trap
- catch-22
- gimmick
- gotcha
- hitch
- joker
- land mine
- pitfall
- snag
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb Catch the ball and throw it to first base. She caught the ball with one hand. I dropped the book but managed to catch it before it hit the ground. I'll throw you the keys. Ready? Catch! He caught hold of her wrist. The police are working hard to catch the criminals and put them in jail. “I bet you can't catch me!” she yelled to her brother. I once caught 10 fish in a single day. In the summer, we would catch fireflies and put them in jars. I caught her just as she was leaving for work. Noun The shortstop made a tough catch. She used to play catch with her dad. Let's play a game of catch. a catch of about 20 fish See More
Recent Examples on the WebTommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2023 The Ducks get within sight of the leaders, only to catch a flat, blow a gasket or roll over. —Bill Oram, oregonlive, 11 Feb. 2023 Intel knew performance might be an issue in certain games at launch, but Petersen says the team needed to get its GPUs into the hands of reviewers and customers to catch every single performance issue. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 1 Feb. 2023 Improbable - a good way to describe that play because Smith didn’t actually catch the ball. —Candace Buckner, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Jan. 2023 For those who have spent the last six months in an NFL cocoon, here are 10 questions and answers to help catch you up on the great issues of the day. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023 After a short time a pass is made to another robot, which tries to score a goal, but the opponent goalie is able to catch the ball. —IEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2023 Fake accounts and group chats conceal their traffickers’ identities and can be deleted on the spot if the traffickers catch wind of police investigations. —USA Today, 19 Jan. 2023 Listed at 6-3, 190 pounds, Williams has the skill set to stretch the field and catch jump balls, even as the question of who will be throwing to him remains unanswered for the time being. —Wilson Moore, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2023 Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2023 As with most deals in life, there seems to be at least one catch. —Patrick George, The Verge, 14 Jan. 2023 But, after Davis’ play, the next biggest was a 15-yard catch by Blair Conwright. —Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023 Mabry’s touchdown was the first catch of his career. —Tim Booth, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2023 This is the catch every e-commerce newcomer has to deal with. —Polina Beletskaya, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 There is a catch: The NLRB wouldn’t be able to use the new funds for electronic voting in union elections and must continue to use paper ballots, a rider that has been in place since the 2012 budget. —Thomas Gryta, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2022 This sense of immortality may be reassuring, but there is a catch. —Rankin, WIRED, 15 Dec. 2022 There was a catch: No one knew her banquet was vegan, and yet her fellow actors couldn’t stop eating her food. —Jess Eng, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2022 See More
Verb
Morgan Freeman and Cole Hauser have a murderer to catch. —Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2023 The Ducks get within sight of the leaders, only to catch a flat, blow a gasket or roll over. —Bill Oram, oregonlive, 11 Feb. 2023 Intel knew performance might be an issue in certain games at launch, but Petersen says the team needed to get its GPUs into the hands of reviewers and customers to catch every single performance issue. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 1 Feb. 2023 Improbable - a good way to describe that play because Smith didn’t actually catch the ball. —Candace Buckner, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Jan. 2023 For those who have spent the last six months in an NFL cocoon, here are 10 questions and answers to help catch you up on the great issues of the day. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2023 After a short time a pass is made to another robot, which tries to score a goal, but the opponent goalie is able to catch the ball. —IEEE Spectrum, 23 Jan. 2023 Fake accounts and group chats conceal their traffickers’ identities and can be deleted on the spot if the traffickers catch wind of police investigations. —USA Today, 19 Jan. 2023 Listed at 6-3, 190 pounds, Williams has the skill set to stretch the field and catch jump balls, even as the question of who will be throwing to him remains unanswered for the time being. —Wilson Moore, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2023 Noun
People looking for love have been offered an extra incentive to go out on dates — a chunk of cash — but there is a catch. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2023 As with most deals in life, there seems to be at least one catch. —Patrick George, The Verge, 14 Jan. 2023 But, after Davis’ play, the next biggest was a 15-yard catch by Blair Conwright. —Dallas News, 10 Jan. 2023 Mabry’s touchdown was the first catch of his career. —Tim Booth, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2023 This is the catch every e-commerce newcomer has to deal with. —Polina Beletskaya, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 There is a catch: The NLRB wouldn’t be able to use the new funds for electronic voting in union elections and must continue to use paper ballots, a rider that has been in place since the 2012 budget. —Thomas Gryta, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2022 This sense of immortality may be reassuring, but there is a catch. —Rankin, WIRED, 15 Dec. 2022 There was a catch: No one knew her banquet was vegan, and yet her fellow actors couldn’t stop eating her food. —Jess Eng, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-French cacher, chacher, chacer to hunt, from Vulgar Latin *captiare, alteration of Latin captare to chase, frequentative of capere to take — more at heave entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Phrases Containing catch
Kids Definition
catch
1 of 2 verb ˈkach
ˈkech
caught ˈkȯt ; catching
; catching 1
a
: to capture or seize in flight or motion
catch butterflies
catch a ball
b
: trap entry 2 sense 1a
2
a
: to discover unexpectedly
was caught in the act
b
: to stop suddenly
caught himself before he gave away the secret
3
: to take hold of : snatch
4
a
: to get entangled
catch a sleeve on a nail
b
: to have the parts connect firmly
this lock will not catch
c
: to attach, join, or fasten tightly
5
: to fall sick with
catch a cold
6
: to take or get for a short time or quickly
catch a glimpse of a friend
catch a little sleep
7
a
: to catch up to
will have to hurry to catch the leaders
b
: to get aboard in time
catch the bus
8
: understand sense 1a
didn't catch what she said
9
: to play baseball as a catcher
catch
2 of 2 noun1
a
: something caught
b
: the quantity caught at one time
a large catch of fish
2
a
: the act of catching
b
: a pastime in which a ball is thrown and caught
3
: something that checks, fastens, or holds immovable
a catch on a door
4
: one worth discovering or finding
5
: a round for three or more voices
6
: a hidden difficulty
there must be a catch
catch 1 of 2
verb
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
- grab
- snatch
- capture
- get
- seize
- snag
- nab
- land
- trap
- hook
- snare
- net
- corral
- bag
- grapple
- rap
- cop
- collar
- nail
- hold
- glom
- grasp
- take hold (of)
- nobble
- arrest
- apprehend
- snap (up)
- detain
- rope
- clutch
- lasso
- glove
- bay
- corner
- kidnap
- secure
- grip
- ensnare
- halter
- entrap
- fist
- clasp
- rend
- abduct
- wrest
- entangle
- mesh
- enmesh
- fasten (on)
- latch (on or onto)
- immesh
- spirit (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- release
- drop
- free
- discharge
- liberate
- loosen
- unhand
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- get
- take
- contract
- come down (with)
- sicken (with)
- go down (with)
- fail
- languish
- wilt
- sink
- break out (with)
- worsen
- weaken
- succumb (to)
- wither
- die (from)
- waste (away)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- recover
- gain
- recoup
- recuperate
- heal
- shake (off)
- snap back
- recover (from)
- mend
- come back
- rebound
- rally
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- stop
- halt
- stall
- check
- block
- arrest
- stay
- still
- draw up
- pull up
- hold
- fetch up
- snag
- hinder
- hold up
- suspend
- bring up
- impede
- end
- obstruct
- detain
- hold back
- stem
- balk
- conclude
- clog
- baffle
- terminate
- cut off
- bottleneck
- dam
- suppress
- call
- blockade
- squelch
- choke off
- stunt
- turn back
- discontinue
- repress
- staunch
- squash
- stanch
- rein (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continue
- keep (on)
- persist
- move
- keep up
- proceed
- run on
- fare
- push
- progress
- advance
- follow through (with)
- march
- drive
- carry on
- spur
- stir
- wend
- propel
- goad
- actuate
- impel
- budge
- go along
4
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette Synonyms & Similar Words
- secure
- fasten
- hitch
- clamp
- anchor
- fix
- set
- moor
- stuff
- embed
- wedge
- lodge
- imbed
- engrain
- entrench
- ingrain
- implant
- intrench
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pull
- loosen
- loose
- unfasten
- extract
- pry
- prize
- tear (out)
- yank
- unloose
- uproot
- wrest
- unfix
- unloosen
- root (out)
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
- know
- see
- understand
- decipher
- recognize
- get
- grasp
- appreciate
- comprehend
- realize
- discern
- seize
- make
- apprehend
- perceive
- sense
- dig
- conceive
- assimilate
- register
- decode
- make out
- intuit
- twig
- savvy
- behold
- absorb
- pick up on
- grok
- catch on (to)
- tumble (to)
- digest
- cognize
- compass
- fathom
- cotton (to or on to)
- take in
- penetrate
- pierce
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miss
- misunderstand
- misread
- mistake
- misinterpret
- misconstrue
- misperceive
- misconceive
- misapprehend
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- trick
- deceive
- fool
- tease
- kid
- sucker
- juggle
- mislead
- delude
- dupe
- gull
- sting
- have
- gaff
- bamboozle
- hoodwink
- suck in
- cheat
- burn
- take in
- beguile
- con
- misinform
- bluff
- spoof
- snow
- buffalo
- string along
- have on
- misguide
- hoax
- snooker
- cozen
- pull one's leg
- gammon
- fake out
- humbug
- stick
- hornswoggle
- lead one up the garden path
- lead one down the garden path
- pull the wool over one's eyes
- do a number on
- shortchange
- put on
- squeeze
- defraud
- hustle
- swindle
- bleed
- chisel
- rook
- diddle
- fleece
- skin
- mulct
- flimflam
- euchre
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expose
- reveal
- uncover
- tell
- undeceive
- unmask
- disclose
- divulge
- debunk
- show up
- unveil
- disabuse
- uncloak
- disillusion
- disenchant
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- encounter
- meet
- confront
- greet
- run upon
- run across
- run into
- bump into
- accost
- pass
- stumble (upon)
- salute
- face
- cross paths (with)
- cross
- chance (upon)
- happen (upon)
- remeet
- crisscross
- reencounter
- collide (with)
- crash (into)
- tumble (to)
- hit (upon)
- light (upon)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- escape
- avoid
- evade
- shake
- elude
- shun
- dodge
- duck
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- notice
- spot
- see
- eye
- watch
- sight
- regard
- observe
- view
- spy
- espy
- discern
- remark
- perceive
- witness
- distinguish
- note
- behold
- descry
- identify
- get a load of
- glimpse
- set eyes on
- look (at)
- pick out
- lay eyes on
- scan
- heed
- inspect
- consider
- scrutinize
- make out
- examine
- mark
- study
- survey
- pick up
- mind
- attend (to)
- glance (at)
- peer (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignore
- miss
- disregard
- neglect
- overlook
- pass over
- overpass
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- chase
- overtake
- reach
- pursue
- overhaul
- catch up (with)
- pass
- gain
- surpass
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fall short
catch
2 of 2noun
1
as in snag
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- snag
- hitch
- risk
- gotcha
- land mine
- booby trap
- kicker
- pitfall
- snare
- gimmick
- trap
- trip wire
- joker
- surprise
- bait
- web
- lure
- hazard
- catch-22
- bomb
- decoy
- peril
- bombshell
- surprize
2
as in prize
someone or something unusually desirable everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch Synonyms & Similar Words
- prize
- gem
- treasure
- find
- jewel
- valuable
- spoil
- pearl
- plum
- blessing
- windfall
- brass ring
- swag
- plunder
- booty
- loot
- godsend
- goody
- goodie
- gold
- treasure trove
- jackpot
- prize money
- glory
- pride
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lemon
- loser
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- haul
- yield
- take
- proceeds
- bounty
- earnings
- profit
- revenue
- gain
- bag
- return
- income
- receipts
- gross
- net
- loot
- payoff
- winnings
- spoils
- collection
- swag
- booty
- plunder
- appropriation
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loss
- deduction
- subtraction
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of catch are bag, capture, ensnare, entrap, snare, and trap. While all these words mean "to come to possess or control by or as if by seizing," catch implies the seizing of something in motion or in flight or in hiding.
caught the dog as it ran by
The words bag and catch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bag implies shooting down a fleeing or distant prey.
bagged a brace of pheasants
While the synonyms capture and catch are close in meaning, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.
capture an enemy stronghold
Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.
entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars
Trap, snare, entrap, and ensnare imply seizing by some device that holds the one caught at the mercy of the captor. Trap and snare apply more commonly to physical seizing.
trap animals
snared butterflies with a net