catch 1 of 2

verb

ˈkach How to pronounce catch (audio)
Definition of catchnext
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

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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

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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

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4
as in to secure
to put securely in place or in a desired position caught back her hair with a barrette

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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catch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in hitch
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

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2
as in prize
someone or something unusually desirable everyone thought the captain of the football team was a real catch

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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

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb catch contrast with its synonyms?

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

Where would bag be a reasonable alternative to catch?

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

When is capture a more appropriate choice than catch?

While the synonyms capture and catch are close in meaning, capture suggests taking by overcoming resistance or difficulty.

capture an enemy stronghold

How are the words entrap and ensnare related as synonyms of catch?

Both entrap and ensnare more often are figurative.

entrapped the witness with a trick question
a sting operation that ensnared burglars

How is trap related to other words for catch?

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of catch
Verb
Nacua enjoyed a record-setting season, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. —Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025 No one ever caught him sleeping on that mattress behind the Jewish Community Center. —Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2025
Noun
The spring salmon run brings over a million Chinook, sockeye, and coho, but there’s plenty of year-round catches like walleye. —Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2025 Viewing yourself as a professional catch that a company would be lucky to have is a great way to start any interview. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for catch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch
  1. grab
  2. get
  3. stop
  4. secure
  5. know
  6. trick
  7. encounter
  8. notice
Verb
  • Scott grabbed some pizza and returned to park her Subaru near the West Shore Market to wait for Serafini.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025
  • Appeal To All Five Senses People still like going out, meeting others and grabbing coffee.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Clients would get the remains of not only their loved one, but also the remains of other bodies.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 2 June 2025
  • Left-hander Pierce Coppola got the start and, after a dominant return against Alabama to the tune of 10 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, just couldn’t find the zone.
    — Jackson Castellano, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 June 2025
Definition of get
Verb
  • On September 2, Border Force officers had stopped two women at London Stansted Airport.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Goldman Sachs and Nasdaq have both stopped requiring companies using them for an IPO to have diverse board members.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Despite not having a body, prosecutors secured a conviction in Woodward's case on March 16, 2020.
    — Doc Louallen, ABC News, 6 June 2025
  • Building on the success of its 4K re-release of Akira in 2023 across 12 countries, POM Anime has secured theatrical rights in eight new territories, expanding into the Nordics and Baltics.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 June 2025
Definition of secure
Verb
  • Whether yours is filled with down, polyester, or something in between, knowing how to wash it properly can mean the difference between preserving its plush feel and ending up with a lumpy, flattened mess.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
  • Everyone knows the dangers that’s on [the East River], that current.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 31 May 2025
Definition of know
Verb
  • Attackers often trick users into unknowingly running malware this way. 4.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
  • In April, the comedian shared that he had been tricked by someone pretending to be the group’s manager while trying to arrange a bit involving actor Richard Kind and a pet tortoise.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 May 2025
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Domestic cats descend from desert-dwelling ancestors who rarely encountered large bodies of water.
    — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • Yankees supporters are accustomed to Dodger Stadium being hostile ground, but being hit by a chunk of concrete falling from the stadium ceiling is beyond what fans steel themselves to encounter.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Definition of encounter
Verb
  • Other journalists noticed a drop-off in performance for the convertibles, and probably more so than the mild weight gains of just about 100 lbs (45 kg) might suggest.
    — Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
  • Karen Walsh began to notice a change in her husband back in 2017.
    — Jon Hamilton, NPR, 30 May 2025
Definition of notice

Phrases Containing catch

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catcalls
catch
catch-22
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Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on catch

Nglish: Translation of catch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catch

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