catch
Third Person
catches
Present Participle
catching
Past Tense
caught
Past Participle
caught
1
to stop and hold an object that is moving through the air
transitive
- Be careful to catch the egg without breaking it.
- In his last game, the baseball player caught a fast pitch.
- It might sound a bit strange, but my dog loves to catch a frisbee.
- She practiced how to catch a tennis ball in her spare time.
- The goalkeeper is going to catch the ball in the next match.
Synonyms:
2
to capture or grab something or someone using methods like hunting, chasing, or trapping
transitive
- The fisherman patiently waited to catch a big trout in the river.
- The cat stealthily crept up to catch a mouse in the garden.
- The spider used its web to catch insects for food.
- The hunter set up traps to catch game in the forest.
- The hunter caught several rabbits using strategically placed traps.
Synonyms:
3
to reach and get on a bus, aircraft, or train in time
transitive
- He left his meeting early in order to catch his flight home.
- She caught the bus just in time for her morning class.
- She usually catches the 8 a.m. metro to the university.
- They caught the late-night bus back to their hotel.
- They plan to leave the party early to catch the last ferry back home.
4
to get sick, usually with bacteria or a virus
transitive
- Be careful around him; you don't want to catch the flu.
- Be careful when visiting the hospital, so you don't catch an infection.
- Children in school often catch and spread germs quickly.
- Many people caught the virus during the winter.
- The crowded train is a place where you can easily catch a cold.
Synonyms:
5
to arrive at a location or be present at a specific time to witness or experience something
transitive
- We hurried to catch the movie before it started at the theater.
- She wanted to catch the sunrise at the beach, so she woke up early and drove there before dawn.
- He tried to catch his favorite radio show every morning before heading to work.
- They rushed to catch the opening act of the play, arriving just in time to find their seats.
- I hope we can catch the speaker's presentation at the conference tomorrow afternoon.
6
to discover someone in the act of doing something wrong or incriminating
- The teacher caught the students cheating on the exam and immediately confiscated their cheat sheets.
- I caught my roommate stealing money from my wallet when I walked into the room unexpectedly.
- She caught her partner lying about their whereabouts.
- The auditor caught the employee embezzling funds.
- The parents caught their children sneaking out of the house late at night.
7
to realize or perceive something that was previously unnoticed
transitive
- He caught the subtle hint in her words and understood what she truly meant
- The detective caught an inconsistency in the suspect's alibi, leading to further investigation.
- She caught the disapproving look on her boss's face and realized she had made a mistake.
- He caught the underlying sadness in her voice and offered his support.
8
to assume the role of the catcher in a sports game
transitive
- He was called upon to catch the final inning of the softball game.
- The starting catcher caught the first six innings of the baseball game before being replaced by a backup player.
- She was called upon to catch the extra innings of the softball game.
- The young catcher was given the opportunity to catch the entire second game of the doubleheader.
- The veteran catcher caught the first four innings of the exhibition match.
9
to apprehend or capture something or someone, often after chasing them
transitive
- The police caught the fleeing suspect after a high-speed chase.
- The security guard caught the shoplifter and held them until the police arrived.
- The police officer caught the purse snatcher, tackling them to the ground.
- The soldier caught the enemy spy, intercepting their attempts to gather classified information.
- The farmer caught the runaway horse, bringing it back to the stable safely.
10
(of an object) to get caught or snagged in another object or substance
- Her necklace caught in the branches of a tree as she walked through the forest.
- The kite caught on a power line and couldn't be retrieved without assistance.
- The fishing line caught on a rock underwater, causing the fisherman to lose his bait.
- I was wearing loose clothing, and my sleeve caught on the doorknob.
- As he was running, his shoelace caught in a crack on the pavement, causing him to stumble.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
11
(of fire) to spread or extend to various objects, areas, or structures
transitive
- The sparks from the fireworks caught the roof of the building.
- The fire caught the nearby trees, rapidly spreading through the forest.
- The kitchen fire caught the cabinets, leading to significant damage.
- The burning debris caught the adjacent building, causing the fire to extend to the neighboring property.
- The sparks from the fireplace caught the carpet, quickly spreading throughout the room.
12
to land a hit or strike on a target, making contact with the intended object or person
transitive
- The boxer threw a powerful punch and caught his opponent on the chin, knocking him down.
- The martial artist executed a swift kick and caught his opponent in the chest.
- The fencer lunged forward and caught her opponent on the arm, earning a point in the match.
- The martial artist delivered a spinning kick and caught her opponent in the head
- The martial artist executed a lightning-fast punch and caught his opponent in the ribs.
Synonyms:
13
to captivate or enchant someone through charisma or attractiveness
transitive
- The singer's soulful voice and stage presence caught the audience.
- Her infectious smile and warm personality caught everyone in the room.
- The charismatic politician's speech caught the crowd.
- The talented dancer's graceful movements caught the judges, earning her high praise and recognition.
- The storyteller's engaging narrative style caught the children.
14
to comprehend or perceive spoken words, often requiring attention or concentration
transitive
- I couldn't quite catch what she said over the noise of the traffic.
- She spoke softly, and I strained to catch her words from across the room.
- The professor's accent was thick, making it hard for the students to catch every word of the lecture.
- He mumbled something under his breath, and I struggled to catch what he was saying.
- Despite the poor reception, I managed to catch the gist of her message on the phone.
Synonyms:
15
to collect and keep something for further use or possession
transitive
- The pitcher caught rainwater in a bucket for later use.
- The sponge caught the spilled milk, preventing it from spreading across the floor.
- She caught the rain in a bucket to water her plants during the dry season.
16
to capture and accurately reflect the essence, energy, or intention of a spirit or idea
transitive
- The actor's portrayal of the historical figure caught the essence of their personality.
- The musician's rendition of the classic song caught the original spirit.
- The play's adaptation to the screen successfully caught the spirit of the original theatrical production.
- The writer's article caught the spirit of the protest.
- The chef's dish caught the essence of the region's culinary tradition.
Synonyms:
17
to notice or see something briefly
transitive
- As she walked through the garden, she caught sight of a rare butterfly fluttering among the flowers.
- He caught a glimpse of the sunset through the trees as he drove along the winding mountain road.
- He caught a fleeting scent of flowers as he walked past the garden.
- The hiker caught a glimpse of a deer darting through the forest before it vanished into the trees.
- During the hike, they caught sight of a majestic eagle soaring high above the mountains.
Synonyms:
18
to experience or receive the impact of something, often in a negative or harmful way
transitive
- He caught a bullet in his shoulder during the shootout.
- The boxer caught a powerful punch to the jaw, sending him to the canvas.
- The car caught the full force of the collision.
- The building caught the brunt of the storm, with strong winds causing structural damage.
- The victim caught a severe beating from the assailants, leading to multiple injuries and bruises.
19
to ignite and start to burn
- As the firefighters arrived, the old house's rafters had already caught.
- The paper caught and quickly turned to ash in the fireplace.
- The logs caught, and the campfire roared to life.
- The dry brush caught, and the wildfire spread rapidly through the forest.
20
to surpass or overtake someone or something, often in a race, competition, or pursuit
transitive
- The car accelerated and caught the slower vehicle in front.
- The cyclist caught the group ahead and joined them in the final stretch of the race.
- The airplane accelerated down the runway and caught the preceding aircraft.
- The cyclist caught the leading rider on the final climb and made a decisive move to take the race victory.
- The race car driver skillfully caught the car ahead on a sharp turn.
Synonyms:
21
to regain something essential for one's well-being or functioning
transitive
- After running a marathon, the exhausted runner stopped to catch his breath.
- After a long day of work, he collapsed onto the couch to catch some sleep.
- The hiker reached the mountaintop and sat down to catch her breath.
- He stepped outside to catch some fresh air.
- The office worker stepped away from the computer to catch a moment of peace.
22
to notice or observe an error, mistake, or misjudgment made by someone
transitive
- The editor caught a spelling mistake in the manuscript before it went to print.
- The accountant caught an error in the financial statement.
- The detective caught a discrepancy in the suspect's alibi during the investigation.
- The manager caught a mistake in the project timeline, ensuring necessary adjustments were made.
- The referee caught the player's foul during the game and issued a penalty accordingly.
Synonyms:
23
to comprehend or capture the meaning or essence of something
transitive
- It took me a moment to catch the significance of her words.
- After reading the article a few times, I finally caught the main idea and understood the author's perspective.
- After listening intently, she caught the main points of the lecture.
- The team huddled together to discuss the strategy, making sure everyone caught the game plan.
Synonyms:
24
to have a part of one's body or clothing become entangled or trapped in something
transitive
- She caught her sleeve on a nail sticking out from the fence and tore a hole in her shirt.
- I caught my foot in the tree root and stumbled while walking through the forest.
- He caught his finger in the door as it slammed shut, resulting in a painful injury.
- She caught her hair in the zipper of her jacket and had to carefully untangle it.
- She caught her earring on a branch while hiking, and it pulled painfully on her earlobe.
25
to reflect briefly to reassess one's actions, behavior, or thoughts
transitive
- I caught myself before saying something hurtful.
- She caught herself starting to procrastinate and reminded herself of the importance of staying focused.
- I caught myself getting defensive during the argument and took a deep breath to respond calmly.
- I caught myself slipping into negative self-talk and replaced it with positive affirmations.
- He caught himself about to make an impulsive purchase and reconsidered its necessity.