1
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body
after several years of trying to have a baby, the couple was surprised when they discovered she was caught
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2
as in arrested
taken and held prisoner
after seeing how the caught soldiers had been treated, we resolved never to be taken alive
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1
as in grabbed
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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2
as in got
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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3
as in stopped
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 secured
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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5
as in knew
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 tricked
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 encountered
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 noticed
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 chased
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 caught
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Boasting over 1,300 five-star ratings, this foldable cushion caught my attention because it can be used for lower back pain, too.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
The freshman phenom caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown and had two carries for 11 yards.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
At one point, a trap even caught the wrong bear.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The plane, a Douglas DC-3, caught fire mid-flight near De Kalb, Texas.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
The family of Texas man Michael Sheehan filed a lawsuit in June, detailing a 2024 crash in Baytown in which Sheehan’s vehicle left the road, struck a culvert and caught fire.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Police previously said a 2011 Infiniti G37 sedan crashed on the I-30 service road and caught fire.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
The success of these drugs, used to treat diabetes and obesity, has naturally caught the attention of Novo’s competitors.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for caught
Adjective
-
The actress became pregnant with their first child while filming season 3 of The Rookie, and instead of strategically concealing her pregnancy to play Angela, creator Alexi Hawley simply wrote it into Diaz's character's storyline.—
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In the fine print of its overhauled recommendations, the CDC suggests an initial RSV dose for infants under 8 months if their mothers did not get an RSV shot while pregnant, and a second dose for children with underlying issues like chronic lung disease.—
Verb
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Javonte Green missed a potential tying 3-point try and Paul Reed grabbed the rebound, but committed Detroit's 25th turnover.—
-
Carolyn Collins scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Mya Korpal had 15 points as Winchester came back to defeat Reading 54-53 in Middlesex League play.—
Verb
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By 1996, Joe broke through in commercial work and got into television.—
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Multiple King of Fire, which got its start as a food truck and expanded to a permanent space in uptown Charlotte, plans to open a 3,484-square-foot space at CrossRidge Center across the border in Indian Land, South Carolina.—
Verb
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Ross, who was one of several federal agents involved in the arrest, initially drew his service weapon, but holstered the gun after Muñoz-Guatemala stopped his car and raised his hands, according to the affidavit.—
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Braddy stopped the car, got Quantisha back inside, and put Shandelle in the trunk, before driving for 30 to 45 minutes.—
Verb
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That win secured him a spot on Team USA, placing him on the Olympic development pathway through USA Boxing.—
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Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.—
Verb
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Though their divorce was acrimonious, and the two were later involved in various legal proceedings, the source said that Clarkson knew the importance of her children’s relationship with their father.—
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Authorities said the two teenagers knew each other, but did not provide further details on their relationship.—
Verb
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Accountancy has seen several cheating scandals in recent years, with the Big Four firms hit with multimillion-dollar fines after staff tricked internal exams, but the sector is far from alone.—
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The initial scheme involved a nonprofit organization that tricked state and federal officials into paying them to serve food to thousands of hungry children but never provided the meals.—
Verb
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When living in Iowa, Mercer and his wife encountered those headwinds after trying to find child care for their young son.—
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The two roommates who were spared — Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke — encountered the gory scene the next morning.—
Cite this Entry
“Caught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caught. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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