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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Financial services leaders are thus caught in a paradox. —Kathleen Walch, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 Then, a group of about 10 other ICE agents, also in plain clothes, caught them off guard in the hallway. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025
Noun
And there’s the catch: legacy data center networking technologies just aren’t optimized to support these demands. —Manish Gulyani, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 Off the coast of southern Japan, trawlers hauled in their nets and sifted through the catch. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 22 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
  • In the morning, the restaurant doubles as a coffee shop where guests can grab drip coffee, fresh juices, and a small selection of hot and cold breakfast options, including the beloved Hawaiian classic, Loco Moco.
    — Jalyn Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2025
  • The colorful bar framed in bright neon lights is on the main concourse, so people walking by can grab a drink and head to the casino or other favorite activity, Allen said.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 24 May 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
  • The chase reportedly ended when Buckley wrecked near the intersection of Watts and McAlister streets, an area of mostly forest about 1 1/2 miles southeast of where Buckley was first stopped.
    — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 25 May 2025
  • It's been hard for any team to stop Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the regular season MVP.
    — Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025
  • Thank you all for your tremendous support and dedication in our fight to secure a fair contract!
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025
Definition of secure
Verb
  • In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know: Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 31 May 2025
  • When shopping for pure silk, be sure look for bedding labels that note 100% mulberry silk, also known as natural silk.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 May 2025
Definition of know
Verb
  • 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
  • Attackers often trick users into unknowingly running malware this way. 4.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of trick
Verb
  • Related Stories 3 Killed, 5 Injured in Mass Stabbing at German Festival At Least 28 Injured in Possible Attack in Munich Ahead of World Leaders Meeting Germany has encountered a rise in knife crime in recent years.
    — Charna Flam, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • Data cited in the administration’s motion show nearly a million family unit encounters at the southern border in each of the past two years.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

catcalls
catch
catch-22
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on catch

Nglish: Translation of catch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All