catching
adjective
catch·ing ˈka-chiŋ 
ˈke-
1
: infectious, contagious
the flu is catching
his spirit is catching
2
: catchy, alluring
Synonyms
- communicable
- contagious
- pestilent
- transmissible
- transmittable
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
“I have a cold.” “Is it catching?” a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Recent Examples on the Web Jacob Nottingham was recalled from Class AAA San Antonio to provide additional catching depth until Piña is able to return. 
Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2019 However, the company has been struggling with catching objects: SpaceX has been trying to catch part of the Falcon 9’s nose cone, using a boat with a giant net. Loren Grush, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2018 While 32 games of a full season, 130 is a big number these days in the catching world. Jeff Wilson, star-telegram, 16 Feb. 2018 Staff there said most catching flights were those trying to go to Dubai. Washington Post, 20 June 2017
Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2019 However, the company has been struggling with catching objects: SpaceX has been trying to catch part of the Falcon 9’s nose cone, using a boat with a giant net. Loren Grush, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2018 While 32 games of a full season, 130 is a big number these days in the catching world. Jeff Wilson, star-telegram, 16 Feb. 2018 Staff there said most catching flights were those trying to go to Dubai. Washington Post, 20 June 2017 Word History
First Known Use
1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing catching
Kids Definition
catching
adjective
catch·ing
ˈka-ching,
ˈke-
1
: infectious sense 1, contagious
Is her illness catching?
2
: likely to spread as if infectious
The laughter was catching.
catching 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- infectious
- communicable
- contagious
- infective
- transmissible
- transmittable
- pestilent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- noncommunicable
- noninfectious
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease Synonyms & Similar Words
- infectious
- spreading
- epidemic
- contagious
- winning
- perceptible
- fetching
- tangible
- overpowering
- irresistible
- overwhelming
- inviting
- irresistable
- palpable
- disarming
- endearing
- winsome
catching
2 of 2verb
1
as in grabbing
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
- grabbing
- snatching
- capturing
- getting
- seizing
- snagging
- landing
- trapping
- nabbing
- snaring
- hooking
- corralling
- bagging
- nailing
- copping
- netting
- grappling
- collaring
- rapping
- holding
- glomming
- grasping
- nobbling
- arresting
- apprehending
- clutching
- securing
- roping
- detaining
- taking hold (of)
- lassoing
- snapping (up)
- gloving
- gripping
- kidnapping
- clasping
- cornering
- haltering
- ensnaring
- abducting
- entrapping
- entangling
- baying
- rending
- wresting
- fisting
- meshing
- enmeshing
- kidnaping
- immeshing
- latching (on or onto)
- fastening (on)
- spiriting (away or off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missing
- releasing
- dropping
- freeing
- discharging
- liberating
- loosening
- unhanding
2
as in getting
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
- getting
- contracting
- taking
- going down (with)
- coming down (with)
- sickening (with)
- failing
- sinking
- weakening
- worsening
- languishing
- withering
- wilting
- breaking out (with)
- succumbing (to)
- dying (from)
- wasting (away)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gaining
- recovering
- recouping
- healing
- recuperating
- mending
- shaking (off)
- rallying
- recovering (from)
- rebounding
- coming back
- snapping back
3
as in stopping
to bring (something) to a standstill I caught myself just as I was about to step into the freshly poured concrete Synonyms & Similar Words
- stopping
- halting
- stalling
- checking
- blocking
- arresting
- staying
- holding
- snagging
- stilling
- hindering
- suspending
- impeding
- pulling up
- obstructing
- bringing up
- drawing up
- stemming
- holding up
- detaining
- fetching up
- ending
- balking
- clogging
- holding back
- terminating
- suppressing
- baffling
- concluding
- blockading
- cutting off
- squashing
- calling
- damming
- squelching
- stunting
- repressing
- bottlenecking
- discontinuing
- turning back
- choking off
- staunching
- stanching
- reining (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuing
- moving
- keeping (on)
- persisting
- advancing
- progressing
- keeping up
- proceeding
- pushing
- marching
- running on
- driving
- following through (with)
- spurring
- stirring
- propelling
- goading
- carrying on
- faring
- wending
- actuating
- impelling
- going along
- budging
4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette Synonyms & Similar Words
- securing
- hitching
- fastening
- clamping
- fixing
- anchoring
- setting
- mooring
- wedging
- embedding
- stuffing
- implanting
- entrenching
- imbedding
- lodging
- engraining
- ingraining
- intrenching
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loosening
- pulling
- loosing
- extracting
- unfastening
- prying
- yanking
- unloosing
- uprooting
- unloosening
- tearing (out)
- wresting
- unfixing
- rooting (out)
- prizing
5
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of I didn't catch the point you were making about our nation's foreign policy Synonyms & Similar Words
- knowing
- seeing
- deciphering
- understanding
- recognizing
- grasping
- getting
- appreciating
- comprehending
- realizing
- perceiving
- sensing
- making
- seizing
- apprehending
- discerning
- conceiving
- assimilating
- digging
- registering
- decoding
- beholding
- intuiting
- twigging
- savvying
- absorbing
- making out
- compassing
- grokking
- cognizing
- digesting
- catching on (to)
- penetrating
- picking up on
- fathoming
- tumbling (to)
- cottoning (to or on to)
- taking in
- piercing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missing
- mistaking
- misinterpreting
- misreading
- misunderstanding
- misconstruing
- misperceiving
- misconceiving
- misapprehending
6
as in tricking
to cause to believe what is untrue a number of media outlets were caught by the woman's hard-luck story Synonyms & Similar Words
- tricking
- fooling
- deceiving
- teasing
- juggling
- gaffing
- duping
- kidding
- having
- misleading
- deluding
- conning
- stinging
- gulling
- gammoning
- cheating
- suckering
- hoodwinking
- burning
- misinforming
- bamboozling
- misguiding
- snookering
- humbugging
- bluffing
- spoofing
- hoaxing
- beguiling
- sucking in
- stringing along
- cozening
- taking in
- having on
- snowing
- sticking
- buffaloing
- faking out
- hornswoggling
- defrauding
- pulling one's leg
- hustling
- swindling
- doing a number on
- fleecing
- shortchanging
- rooking
- pulling the wool over one's eyes
- bleeding
- leading one up the garden path
- squeezing
- leading one down the garden path
- putting on
- diddling
- mulcting
- chiseling
- skinning
- euchring
- chiselling
- flimflamming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exposing
- uncovering
- revealing
- disclosing
- telling
- debunking
- unmasking
- divulging
- undeceiving
- unveiling
- showing up
- disabusing
- uncloaking
- disillusioning
- disenchanting
7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face I'll catch you at the library tomorrow Synonyms & Similar Words
- encountering
- meeting
- confronting
- greeting
- running across
- running into
- bumping into
- running upon
- accosting
- facing
- passing
- saluting
- crossing
- crossing paths (with)
- stumbling (upon)
- crisscrossing
- happening (upon)
- chancing (upon)
- reencountering
- remeeting
- re-encountering
- colliding (with)
- crashing (into)
- tumbling (to)
- hitting (upon)
- lighting (upon)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- avoiding
- escaping
- evading
- dodging
- shaking
- eluding
- ducking
- shunning
8
as in noticing
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
- noticing
- spotting
- seeing
- eyeing
- regarding
- eying
- watching
- viewing
- observing
- spying
- remarking
- perceiving
- witnessing
- espying
- sighting
- distinguishing
- noting
- discerning
- beholding
- identifying
- descrying
- considering
- scanning
- inspecting
- getting a load of
- studying
- examining
- surveying
- glimpsing
- scrutinizing
- picking out
- marking
- heeding
- laying eyes on
- looking (at)
- setting eyes on
- making out
- minding
- picking up
- attending (to)
- glancing (at)
- peering (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- neglecting
- disregarding
- missing
- overlooking
- passing over
- overpassing
9
as in chasing
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
- chasing
- overtaking
- reaching
- overhauling
- pursuing
- passing
- catching up (with)
- gaining
- surpassing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- falling short