catch

noun

UK /kætʃ/

Word Forms

singular	catch
plural	catches

1
countable an act of stopping and holding an object moving through the air, especially a ball
Well done! Good catch!
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball
2
countable an amount of fish that have been caught
Catches of Scottish salmon have declined significantly.
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
3
countable an object used for fastening something such as a window, door, or container
a broken window catch
Synonyms and related words
Types of locks and bolts
bolt
catch
combination lock
See alsosafety catch
4
countable usually singulara hidden problem or difficulty in something that seems extremely good
It sounds like a fabulous opportunity, so what’s the catch?
Synonyms and related words
General problems and difficulties
problem
difficulty
trouble
5
uncountable a game in which children throw a ball to each other
Synonyms and related words
Children’s games
action
blind man’s buff
catch
6
countable informal old-fashionedsomeone who would be a very suitable husband, wife, or partner
Synonyms and related words
General words relating to dating and sexual partners
be made for each other
be meant for
catch
7
countable mainly literarya sudden pause in what someone is saying as a result of a strong emotion
Synonyms and related words
Pauses, intervals and halts
pause
interval
halt

catch

noun

US /kætʃ/

Word Forms

singular	catch
plural	catches

1
countable an act of stopping and holding an object moving through the air, especially a ball
Good catch!
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball
2
uncountable a game in which children throw a ball to each other
Synonyms and related words
Children’s games
blind man’s buff
catch
cat’s cradle
3
countable usually singulara hidden problem or difficulty in something that seems extremely good
It sounds like a fabulous opportunity, so what’s the catch?
It is very cheap, but the catch is that you have to be at the airport at 3 in the morning.
Synonyms and related words
General problems and difficulties
problem
difficulty
trouble
4
countable an object used for fastening something such as a window, door, or container
a broken window catch
Synonyms and related words
Types of locks and bolts
bolt
catch
combination lock
See alsosafety catch
5
countable an amount of fish that have been caught
Catches of Atlantic salmon have declined significantly.
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
6
countable mainly literarya sudden pause in what someone is saying as a result of a strong emotion
“I love you so much,” he said with a catch in his voice.
Synonyms and related words
Pauses, intervals and halts
pause
interval
halt
7
countable informal old-fashionedsomeone who would be an appropriate husband, wife, or partner
A penniless writer’s not exactly a good catch, is he?
Synonyms and related words
General words relating to dating and sexual partners
be made for each other
be meant for
catch

catch

verb

UK /kætʃ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	catch
he/she/it	catches
present participle	catching
past tense	caught
past participle	caught

1
intransitive/transitive to stop and hold something that is moving through the air, especially an object that someone throws
She tossed the packet of crisps to Kate, who caught it with one hand.
‘Can I borrow your pen?’ ‘Here, catch!’
Synonyms and related words
To hold something or someone
carry
hold on
hang on
1. 1a
  transitive to stop and keep hold of someone who is falling
  Anne stayed close enough to catch the child if he fell.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from falling
  catch
  prop up
  hold up
2. 1b
  
  catch
  or
  catch out
  transitive Britishto end a cricketer’s period of play by stopping and keeping hold of a ball they have hit before it touches the ground
  Synonyms and related words
  Cricket
  the Ashes
  at stumps
  bail
3. 1c
  intransitive to be the catcher in baseball
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in baseball
  balk
  bat
  catch
4. 1d
  transitive if a container catches liquid or small objects or pieces, they fall into it when it is below them
  Put a bucket over there to catch the drips as they fall.
  Synonyms and related words
  To contain something
  include
  contain
  fit
2
transitive to get hold of and stop someone you have been chasing so that they cannot escape
She raced to catch the toddler before he could make it out of the front gate.
‘Can’t catch me,’ her brother shouted as he ran up the stairs.
Synonyms and related words
To put a person or animal in a place they cannot leave
shut in
imprison
confine
1. 2a
  to take hold of someone or a part of their body with your hands
  Jack caught her as she made for the door.
  catch someone by the wrist/elbow/sleeve etc:
  With one swift movement, he caught her by the wrist.
  catch hold of someone/something:
  She caught hold of his arm and pulled him back.
  Synonyms and related words
  To try to hold something
  catch
  catch at
  claw
3
transitive if the police catch someone, they find them and arrest them
The police say they’re doing all they can to catch the culprits.
Synonyms and related words
Arresting, interviewing and charging suspects
apprehend
apprehension
arrest
4
transitive to get on a train, bus, plane, or boat that is travelling somewhere
I caught the next train back to London.
Synonyms and related words
To get on and off of transport
get on
onto
transfer
1. 4a
  to arrive in time to get on a train, bus, plane, or boat that is travelling somewhere
  If we want to catch that bus we’ll have to leave right now.
  have a train/bus/plane etc to catch:
  I have a train to catch, so we have to finish by 4.30.
  Synonyms and related words
  To get on and off of transport
  get on
  onto
  transfer
5
transitive to stop an animal, bird, or insect and prevent it from escaping, especially using a trap
a device used for catching flies
We rescued a rabbit caught in a trap.
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
1. 5a
  to hunt and stop an animal in order to kill and eat it
  Wolves hunt in packs, using careful strategies to catch their prey.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
2. 5b
  to get a fish from a river, lake, or sea, using a fishing net or rod
  Drift nets are used mainly for catching tuna.
  freshly/locally caught:
  freshly caught trout
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
6
transitive to find someone doing something that they do not expect you to see, especially something wrong or illegal
catch someone doing something:
Several times she’d caught him staring at her.
catch someone red-handed (=find someone doing something wrong or illegal):
Diana was caught red-handed taking money from her mother’s purse.
catch someone in the act (of doing something):
Burglars who are caught in the act have little chance of escaping punishment.
catch someone at it:
They’ve been trying to catch her at it, but she’s too clever.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
7
transitive to find someone in a situation that they are not expecting or prepared for
The railway companies had all been caught completely unprepared by the sudden snowfalls.
catch someone at a bad moment/time:
I’ve obviously caught you at a bad moment. I’ll come back later.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
8
transitive to see or smell something for a very short time
catch a glimpse of someone/something:
People lined the streets outside the theatre to catch a glimpse of her.
catch sight of someone/something:
As she went out, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.
catch a whiff of something (=smell something):
Adam caught a whiff of expensive perfume as she passed by.
Synonyms and related words
To see or not see someone or something
see
make out
spot
Synonyms and related words
To taste or smell something
catch
olfactory
palate
9
transitive to have a sudden effect on something such as someone’s attention or imagination
Suddenly my attention was caught by a lorry parked a short distance ahead.
His campaign seems to have caught the imagination of many other Germans.
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect on someone’s emotions or attitudes
influence
decide
lead to
10
transitive to get a disease or illness
He caught the flu and had to stay in bed.
catch something from someone/something:
Brian caught chickenpox from his nephew.
catch your death (of cold) (=get a bad cold):
Get out of those wet clothes or you’ll catch your death of cold.
Synonyms and related words
To have or develop an illness or symptom
suffer
get
contract
11
transitive usually in negatives or questionsto hear something that someone says
The music was so loud I didn’t catch what he said.
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.
Synonyms and related words
To hear something
make out
hear
overhear
12
transitive to find someone available to talk by going to or telephoning them at the place where they are
Call me at the office. You can usually catch me there after 8.30.
Margaret caught me just as I was leaving.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to say something
say
talk
speak
13
transitive to discover a problem or medical condition and stop it from becoming worse
Doctors assured her that her symptoms had been caught early enough to treat.
Synonyms and related words
To successfully deal with a problem or difficulty
cope
overcome
carry off
Synonyms and related words
To perform a medical test, treatment or operation
abort
anaesthetise
anaesthetize
14
transitive informalto see, watch, or listen to something
Want to catch a film tonight?
Synonyms and related words
To listen
hear out
listen
hear from
Synonyms and related words
To see or not see someone or something
see
make out
spot
Synonyms and related words
To watch someone or something
surveille
watch
observe
15
intransitive/transitive to become stuck on something, or to make something do this
As she ran, her foot caught on something and she fell.
I must have caught my shirt on a nail when I was moving that wood.
Synonyms and related words
Unable to move or be moved
locked-in syndrome
paralysed
stuck
16
transitive if light catches something, or if something catches the light, the light shines on it and makes it look bright and shiny
A fish in the river catches the light one second and swims off into a dark pool the next.
Synonyms and related words
What light can do
reflect
flood
fade
17
transitive if the wind or a wave catches something, it gets behind or under it and suddenly blows or pushes it hard
The balloon was caught by the wind and carried away.
Synonyms and related words
What liquids can do
break
burst
cast up
Synonyms and related words
What the wind can do
blow
blow a gale
catch
18
transitive to hit someone on a part of their body
He caught his opponent with a right cross to the chin.
Synonyms and related words
To hit a person
hit
smack
bludgeon
1. 18a
  to hit part of your body on something by accident
  Sue slipped in the yard and caught her head on the gate post.
  Synonyms and related words
  To hit a part of your body against something
  bang
  bump
  catch
19
transitive to show or represent something in a way that people can easily recognize
It wasn’t a very radical or intellectual newspaper, but it caught a mood of dissent in mid-1950s America.
Synonyms and related words
To be a sign or symbol of something
signify
stand for
symbolize
20
intransitive/transitive to start to burn
The dry twigs soon caught fire.
Synonyms and related words
To burn, or to start a fire
burn
light
blaze
21
catch and kill
if a news organization catches and kills a story, they pay for the rights to it and then do not publish it
In the tabloid business, the practice is called catch and kill.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 27/01/2018
Open Dictionary - January2018

phrases

be caught in the middle

be caught with your pants/trousers down

be/get caught (up) in something

catch your breath

catch someone’s eye

catch the sun

catch you later

you won’t/wouldn’t catch someone doing something

phrasal verbs

catch at

catch on

catch out

catch up

catch up with

catch

verb

US /kætʃ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	catch
he/she/it	catches
present participle	catching
past tense	caught
past participle	caught

1
intransitive/transitive to stop and hold something that is moving through the air, especially an object that someone throws
She tossed the bag of potato chips to Kate, who caught it with one hand.
“Can I borrow your pen?” “Here, catch!”
Synonyms and related words
To hold something or someone
hold on
carry
hang on
1. 1a
  transitive to stop and keep hold of someone who is falling
  Anne stayed close enough to catch the child if he fell.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop someone or something from falling
  catch
  prop up
  hold up
2. 1b
  transitive if a container catches liquid or small objects or pieces, they fall into it when it is below them
  Put a bucket over there to catch the drips.
  Synonyms and related words
  To contain something
  include
  contain
  fit
3. 1c
  intransitive to be the catcher in baseball
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in baseball
  balk
  bat
  baulk
2
transitive to get hold of and stop someone you have been chasing so that they cannot escape
She raced to catch the toddler before he could make it out of the front gate.
“Can’t catch me,” her brother shouted as he ran up the stairs.
Synonyms and related words
To put a person or animal in a place they cannot leave
shut in
imprison
confine
1. 2a
  to take hold of someone or a part of their body with your hands
  Jack caught her as she made for the door.
  catch someone by the wrist/elbow/sleeve etc.:
  With one swift movement, he caught her by the wrist.
  catch hold of someone/something:
  She caught hold of his arm and pulled him back.
  Synonyms and related words
  To try to hold something
  catch
  catch at
  claw
3
transitive if the police catch someone, they find them and arrest them
The police say they’re doing all they can to catch the culprits.
Synonyms and related words
Arresting, interviewing and charging suspects
apprehend
apprehension
arrest
4
transitive to stop an animal, bird, or insect and prevent it from escaping, especially using a trap
a device used for catching flies
We rescued a rabbit caught in a trap.
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
1. 4a
  to hunt and stop an animal in order to kill and eat it
  Wolves hunt in packs, using careful strategies to catch their prey.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
2. 4b
  to get a fish from a river, lake, or the ocean, using a fishing net or rod
  Drift nets are used mainly for catching tuna.
  freshly/locally caught:
  freshly caught trout
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
  an easy target
  angling
  bag
5
transitive to get on a train, bus, airplane, or boat that is traveling somewhere
I caught the next train back to New York.
Synonyms and related words
To get on and off of transport
get on
board
transfer
1. 5a
  to arrive in time to get on a train, bus, airplane, or boat that is traveling somewhere
  If we want to catch that bus we’ll have to leave right now.
  have a train/bus/plane etc. to catch:
  I have a train to catch, so we have to finish by 4:30.
  Synonyms and related words
  To get on and off of transport
  get on
  board
  transfer
6
transitive to find someone doing something that they do not expect you to see, especially something wrong or illegal
catch someone doing something:
Several times she’d caught him staring at her.
catch someone in the act (of doing something):
Burglars who are caught in the act have little chance of escaping punishment.
catch someone red-handed (=find someone doing something wrong or illegal):
Diana was caught red-handed taking money from her mother’s purse.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
7
transitive to get a disease or illness
He caught the flu and had to stay in bed.
catch something from someone/something:
Brian caught chickenpox from his nephew.
catch your death (of cold) (=get a bad cold):
Get out of those wet clothes or you’ll catch your death of cold.
Synonyms and related words
To have or develop an illness or symptom
suffer
get
contract
8
transitive to find someone in a situation that they are not expecting or prepared for
The railroads had all been caught completely unprepared by the sudden snowfalls.
catch someone at a bad moment/time:
I’ve obviously caught you at a bad time. I’ll come back later.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
9
transitive to find someone available to talk by going to or telephoning them at the place where they are
Call me at the office. You can usually catch me there after 8:30.
Margaret caught me just as I was leaving.
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to say something
say
talk
speak
10
transitive to hit someone on a part of their body
He caught his opponent with a right cross to the chin.
Synonyms and related words
To hit a person
hit
beat
smack
1. 10a
  to hit part of your body on something by accident
  Sue slipped in the yard and caught her head on the gate post.
  Synonyms and related words
  To hit a part of your body against something
  bang
  bump
  catch
11
intransitive/transitive to become stuck on something, or to make something do this
As she ran, her foot caught on something and she fell.
I must have caught my shirt on a nail when I was moving that wood.
Synonyms and related words
Unable to move or be moved
locked-in syndrome
stuck
immobile
12
intransitive/transitive to start to burn
The dry twigs soon caught fire.
Synonyms and related words
To burn, or to start a fire
burn
light
blaze
13
transitive informalto see, watch, or listen to something
Want to catch a movie tonight?
Synonyms and related words
To listen
listen
hear out
hear from
Synonyms and related words
To see or not see someone or something
see
make out
spot
Synonyms and related words
To watch someone or something
surveille
watch
observe
14
transitive to discover a problem or medical condition and stop it from becoming worse
Doctors assured her that her symptoms had been caught early enough to treat.
Synonyms and related words
To successfully deal with a problem or difficulty
cope
overcome
carry off
Synonyms and related words
To perform a medical test, treatment or operation
abort
anaesthetize
anesthetize
15
transitive to have a sudden effect on something such as someone’s attention or imagination
Suddenly my attention was caught by a truck parked a short distance ahead.
His campaign seems to have caught the imagination of many other Germans.
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect on someone’s emotions or attitudes
influence
decide
lead to
16
transitive to see or smell something for a very short time
catch sight of someone/something:
As she went out, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.
catch a glimpse of someone/something:
People lined the streets outside the theater to catch a glimpse of her.
catch a whiff of something (=smell something):
Adam caught a whiff of expensive perfume as she passed by.
Synonyms and related words
To see or not see someone or something
see
make out
spot
Synonyms and related words
To taste or smell something
catch
olfactory
palate
17
transitive usually in negatives or questionsto hear something that someone says
The music was so loud I didn’t catch what he said.
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.
Synonyms and related words
To hear something
hear
make out
receive
18
transitive to show or represent something in a way that people can easily recognize
It wasn’t a very radical or intellectual newspaper, but it caught a mood of dissent in mid-1950s America.
Synonyms and related words
To be a sign or symbol of something
signify
indicate
stand for
19
transitive if light catches something, or if something catches the light, the light shines on it and makes it look bright and shiny
A fish in the river catches the light one second and swims off into a dark pool the next.
Synonyms and related words
What light can do
reflect
flood
fade
20
transitive if the wind or a wave catches something, it gets behind or under it and suddenly blows or pushes it hard
The balloon was caught by the wind and carried away.
Synonyms and related words
What liquids can do
break
burst
cast up
Synonyms and related words
What the wind can do
blow
catch
drop
21
catch and kill
if a news organization catches and kills a story, they pay for the rights to it and then do not publish it
In the tabloid business, the practice is called catch and kill.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 27/01/2018
Open Dictionary - January2018

phrases

be caught in the middle

be caught with your pants down

be/get caught (up) in something

catch your breath

catch someone’s eye

catch the sun

catch you later

you won’t/wouldn’t catch someone doing something

phrasal verbs

catch at

catch on

catch out

catch up

catch up with

catch ​‌

catch ​‌

catch ​‌‌‌

catch

catch out

catch and kill

catch ​‌‌‌

catch and kill

catch

catch

catch

catch