1
as in to realize
to come to an awareness of
she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to know
to have a clear idea of
he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catch on (to)
Verb
-
After thinking of it as a separate musical idea, Moody realized that the character’s endless curiosity and moments of brilliance were at his heart.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
25 July 2025 -
And, my fears were realized — the park was crowded.—
Tom Montgomery Fate,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
That gap can cause marketing to keep optimizing based on CPC or CPL without knowing which leads actually move forward in the funnel.—
Ron Browning,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
In the meantime, the Smiths hired their own analyst and discovered that all the emails had originated in the United States, not abroad.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
27 July 2025
-
To avoid harmful effects from these products, read on to discover the most common mistakes and key safety precautions to keep in mind when cleaning your home.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
With millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok and Substack, the platform is positioned towards helping young people better understand the news, with regular free newsletters and podcasts.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
-
But then appeared on the road a living creature whose intent my driver could not understand: a cow.—
Shekar Natarajan,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
At Holland State Park, which is run by the state and hasn’t seen lifeguards in three decades, there’s talk among Park Township officials of implementing a lifeguard pilot program.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
21 July 2025
-
Some spots of fire east of the freeway were seen, along with south of Lindbergh Hill, the team said.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Imagine walking into your doctor’s office feeling sick – and rather than flipping through pages of your medical history or running tests that take days, your doctor instantly pulls together data from your health records, genetic profile and wearable devices to help decipher what’s wrong.—
Turgay Ayer,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
-
Throughout the 20th century, as ruins plunder shifted to protecting the cliff dwellings, archaeologists tried to decipher the remnants and make amends with the descendants, while understanding the ancient situation that prompted this mass migration.—
Mike Bezemek,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Regardless of the era, recognizing the craft’s origins is important to understanding its evolution.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
-
France also announced this week that the country will recognize Palestine as a state.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
If the sky becomes threatening and thunder can be heard, find a safe place to shelter.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
25 July 2025
-
Powell held up both Irwin and Grace while their friends and family off-screen could be heard laughing at the sight.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Catch on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share