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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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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
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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
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7
as in encountering
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 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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2025
The decision by the Baltimore Orioles to sign top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to an eight-year contract extension may signal that the organization is looking to move Adley Rutschman in an offseason trade.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
This is Betty Lin-Fisher with today's edition of The Daily Money, catching you up on some stories from USA TODAY.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
In all of them, Redford does much of his own riding, wing walking, throwing, catching, and hitting.
—Verb
Sides had a breakout season for Guyer in 2022, catching 60 passes for 1,358 yards and 16 touchdowns.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
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His infectious enthusiasm for books opened doors to other roles, like being named the new host of Reading Rainbow and the resident librarian at PBS.—
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Dustin — a fan-favorite from the very first episode because of his infectious optimism and unapologetic nerdiness — is no exception.—
Verb
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Take after the actress by grabbing them in black, or choose from six additional colors, including burgundy and deep brown.—
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Healthy cooking often boils down to accessibility and convenience; busy lives can leave people grabbing less nutritious alternatives.—
Verb
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If Carolina is thinking about the big picture, giving Coker the extra year, perhaps valued as a first- or second-round tender, is just getting ahead of a formality.—
-
Chief among them is getting to be a mentor to newer cast members, such as Marcello Hernández.—
Verb
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The Rhode founder and her stylist Dani Michele delivered a show-stopping moment on the red carpet, pulling a shimmering 2009 Armani Privé gown from the archives.—
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Stroll through the Funk Zone, stopping at wineries, breweries, and local shops along the way.—
Verb
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Apart from his on-field performance, Carson has emerged as one of college football’s top earners in the new NIL era, securing lucrative partnerships with brands such as Beats by Dre and Chipotle, according to Front Office Sports.—
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The stock, which had been priced at $45, opened at $70 and ended the day above $60, propelled by a 2025 surge in federal space and defense spending and headlines the company won after successfully landing a craft on the moon and securing more contracts.—
Verb
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The couple, who did not grow up knowing one another because of estrangements in their families, faced criticism from both sets of parents for the union.—
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Another resident, Carolyn Reeves, said not knowing if the annexation would bring in commercial or residential development raises suspicion.—
Verb
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Ukraine orchestrated a fake hit on one of Russia's enemies who has fought alongside Ukrainian forces, tricking the Kremlin into paying out a $500,000 bounty Kyiv used to fund its war effort.—
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To pull off his human heist, Mendez must develop and try to sell a Star Wars-esque sci-fi film, in the hopes of tricking the Iranians into believing the American hostages are part of a Canadian film crew.—
Verb
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The shocking clip shows 27-year-old Emily Marzilli and friends encountering a hungry Bryde's whale while swimming near a school of sardines.—
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Each episode finds Xena (Lawless) and her companion Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) encountering characters from both history and mythology.—
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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