catch

SayKACH/kæt͡ʃ/UK/kat͡ʃ/

Verbcatches, catching, caught

Noun pluralcatches

56 meanings of catch

Practice

1
captureverbtransitive
To take hold of a person or animal that is trying to get away.
Like grabbing a hen that keeps running around the yard.
The police managed to catch the runaway thief.
She caught the loose puppy before it reached the road.
Similarcapture, trap, snare, seize
Oppositerelease, free
Note
2
verbtransitive
To take and hold something that is flying or moving through the air.
Like grabbing a falling apple before it lands.
I can catch the ball with one hand.
She caught the frisbee before it hit the ground.
UsageFor the past, say caught (not ~~incorrect: catched~~).
Similargrab, intercept, snatch, take
Oppositedrop, miss
3
overtakeverbtransitive
To reach someone who is ahead of you, or to get somewhere in time.
Like running to reach a friend who is walking ahead of you.
Tom was far ahead in the race, but I could still catch him.
She caught the other racers near the end.
UsageYou can also say catch up with someone.
Similarmake, reach, overtake
Oppositemiss
4
in the actverbtransitive
To find someone doing something wrong when they did not expect it.
Like a parent walking in just as a child grabs a cookie.
The teacher will catch you if you cheat on the test.
They caught the boys stealing apples from the orchard.
UsageSay catch someone doing something, or get caught.
Similarfind, discover, spot, surprise
Note
5
get sickverbtransitive
To get an illness from someone or something around you.
Like picking up mud on your shoes as you walk through a field.
Try not to catch a cold this winter.
He caught the flu from a coworker.
UsageYou catch a cold from someone. For illnesses that don't spread, say get.
Similarcontract, get, develop
6
attract attentionverbtransitive
To draw and hold someone's eye, ear, or attention.
The bright poster caught my eye right away.
A strange sound can catch your ear in a quiet room.
UsageCommon in catch your eye and catch your attention: the poster caught my eye.
Similarattract, draw, grab, arrest
7
spotverbtransitive
To see or notice something, often only for a short moment.
Like spotting a bird in a tree from the corner of your eye.
I caught a glimpse of the deer before it ran off.
Did you catch that look she gave him?
UsageSay catch a glimpse of or catch sight of something.
Similarnotice, spot, glimpse, detect
Oppositemiss, overlook
8
nouncountable
When someone catches something moving, like a ball, before it falls to the ground.
Like grabbing a dropped phone before it hits the floor.
He made a great catch to win the game.
She threw me the keys, and I made an easy catch.
UsageSay make a catch: he made a great catch.
9
hidden problemnouncountable
A hidden problem or trick in something that seems good.
Like a free toy that turns out to need batteries you must buy.
The vacation package seemed cheap, but there was a catch.
Free shipping with no hidden catches sounds too good to be true.
UsagePeople ask What's the catch? when a deal seems too good.
Similarhitch
10
start burningverbtransitive
Of fire or a feeling, to spread to something or someone else and take hold.
The blaze soon caught the wooden roof next door.
Move the candle, or the fire will catch the dry curtains.
Similarignite
11
take transportverbtransitive
To get on a bus, train, or plane to travel somewhere.
We need to catch the early train tomorrow.
She caught a cab to the airport.
UsageSay catch the bus. If you are late, you miss it.
Similartake, board, get
Oppositemiss
Note
12
watch a showverbcolloquialtransitive
To watch or listen to a show, movie, or other entertainment.
Like sitting down to enjoy a TV show after dinner.
We caught the new exhibit before it closed.
Let's catch a movie tonight.
UsageSay catch a movie or catch a show.
Similarsee, watch, attend
Oppositemiss
13
get stuckverbintransitive
To get stuck on something, or to hold onto something so it can't move freely.
The zipper caught halfway up.
These old drawers catch when the wood swells.
UsageSay it caught on something, like a nail.
Similarsnag, stick, jam
Note
14
amount takennouncountable
A thing or animal that has been caught, such as fish.
Like the basket of berries you bring home after picking.
The fishermen weighed their catch at the dock.
After hours at sea, the catches were smaller than expected.
Similarhaul, take, bag
15
get some restverbtransitive
To get a little rest or breath, especially after hard work.
Like stopping to drink water during a long run.
Let me catch my breath before we keep going.
She caught a few hours of sleep on the train.
UsageSay catch your breath when you rest after running.
Similarget, grab
Note
16
verbtransitive
To be hit by, or have to deal with, something bad, like a blow or blame.
Like being in the wrong spot when something bad comes your way.
You'll catch the blame if the plan goes wrong.
He caught a beating from the older boys after school.
Similarget, suffer, take, contract
17
nouncountable
A short pause in someone's voice that happens when they feel something very strongly.
She said goodbye at the airport with a catch in her voice.
I could hear a catch in Dad's voice when he talked about his old dog.
UsageSay a catch in her voice.
Similarbreak, tremor, quaver, crack
18
hit someoneverbtransitive
To hit someone with a punch, a kick, a weapon, or something similar.
The boxer caught his opponent on the nose with a fast punch.
Stay back, or the swinging bat could catch you on the head.
UsageSay the ball caught him on the head.
Similarhit, strike, clip
Note
19
take firm holdverbtransitive
To quickly grab and hold someone or something.
Dad caught me by the arm before I stepped off the curb.
If you start to slip, catch hold of the railing.
UsageSay catch hold of something, or catch someone by the arm.
Similargrab, seize, grasp, clutch, snatch
Note
20
surfingverbtransitive
To get onto a wave in a way that lets you ride it back to the shore.
Paddle fast if you want to catch the next wave.
On her last try of the day, she caught a wave and rode it all the way in.
UsageYou catch a wave, then ride it.
Note
21
dismiss (cricket)verbtransitive
In cricket, to get a batter out by catching the ball they hit before it touches the ground.
Our best batter was caught near the edge of the field after scoring only twelve runs.
Stand near the boundary and try to catch him when he hits the ball high.
UsageOften said as caught by a player or caught at a position.
Note
22
verbtransitive or intransitive
In baseball, to play as the catcher for a set amount of time, like a whole game.
Our backup catcher caught all nine innings in the hot sun.
Sam hurt his knee, so who will catch for our team tonight?
Note
23
nouncountable
A time when someone notices, hears, or understands something.
Good catch on that spelling mistake. I didn't see it at all.
Nice catch! I didn't hear him say the meeting moved to Friday.
UsageSay Good catch! when someone spots a mistake.
Note
24
verbtransitive or intransitive
To take in something like wind, water, or fire, or to be touched by it.
Put a bucket under the leak to catch the water.
The dry grass caught quickly, and soon the whole field was burning.
UsageSay dry grass catches fire.
Similarcollect, gather
Note

Less common meanings

25
throwing gamenoununcountable
A simple game where people throw a ball back and forth and catch it.
The kids played catch in the backyard until dark.
Do you want to play catch after lunch?
UsageSay play catch with someone.
26
understandverbtransitive
To understand what someone means or says.
Like a light turning on in your head when you finally understand.
Did you catch what she just said?
He finally caught the meaning of the joke.
UsageOften in I didn't catch your name, meaning you didn't hear it.
Similargrasp, understand, follow, get, comprehend
Oppositemiss
27
engage (machine)verbintransitive
To connect or lock into place so a thing starts working.
Like a zipper that finally grabs and slides up.
The latch didn't catch, so the door swung open.
The engine sputtered and finally caught.
Similarengage, ignite
28
small locknouncountable
A small part, like a clasp, that holds something shut.
Like the little hook that keeps a door from swinging open.
The catch on the old jewelry box wouldn't hold.
Both catches on the suitcase snapped shut.
Similarlatch, clasp, fastener, hasp
29
great partnernouncolloquialcountable
A person seen as a great boyfriend, girlfriend, or future husband or wife.
Like finding the best apple in the whole basket.
Everyone agreed he was quite a catch.
She's a real catch, smart and kind to everyone.
UsageSay someone is a real catch.
Similarprize, keeper
Note
30
captivateverbtransitive
To charm someone so much that they feel drawn to you.
The blue dress in the shop window caught her fancy.
A good story can catch readers and hold them to the end.
UsageUse caught my fancy to say that something interested or pleased you.
Similarcaptivate, charm, enchant, enthrall
31
verbtransitive
To show or copy the true feeling of something so others can see it.
The photo caught the joy of that summer afternoon.
A good translation can catch the meaning of the original.
Similarcapture, convey, evoke, render
32
pick up moodverbtransitive
To pick up a feeling or habit from the people around you.
Like a yawn that passes from one person to the next.
The whole team caught his excitement before the match.
Children quickly catch the moods of the adults around them.
UsageSay catch the mood or catch someone's excitement.
Similarabsorb
Note
33
get some sunverbtransitive
To be touched or affected by something through being exposed to it.
Like a sail filling up when the wind blows into it.
You caught some sun today, and your face is pink.
Wear a hat, or your face will catch the sun.
UsageSay you caught the sun when your skin went pink.
34
snatch atverbintransitive
To reach out quickly and try to grab at something.
She caught at the railing as she slipped.
Drowning swimmers will catch at anything within reach.
UsageSay catch at something when you try to grab it.
Similargrab, clutch, snatch, grasp
Note
35
noun
Grabbing something or trapping it.
36
noun
A sudden pain in a muscle when you move in a strange way.
37
noun
A small piece of a song or poem.
38
nounobsolete
Waiting quietly, ready to grab or attack.
You lie at the catch again: this is not for edification.
1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress
39
noun
Young plants that have come up and started growing.
40
nounobsolete
A tough sailing boat that most often has two masts.
Fourteene miles Northward from the river Powhatan, is the river Pamaunke, which is navigable 60 or 70 myles, but with Catches and small Barkes 30 or 40 myles farther.
1612, John Smith, Map of Virginia
41
noun
A funny, often rude song, mostly for men, where singers start one tune in turn, overlapping.
42
noun
The part of a song that is sung again after every verse.
43
noun
A player who is good at catching the ball.
44
noun
The moment an oar first goes into the water in a stroke.
45
noun
A quick pause in breathing that sounds a bit like coughing.
46
noun
Short times or chances you take when you can.
47
noun
A small memory or sign of something.
48
verb
To trick someone or make them make a mistake.
49
verbdated
To get someone to marry you or be your partner.
"She caught this blanquito guy from El Condado," and you immediately know "My god, all that money."
1990, Vanessa Nemeth, Stephanie Poggi
50
verbrare
To get pregnant, used only in forms like caught.
Had Nancy got caught with a child? If so she would destroy her parent's dreams for her.
2002, Orpha Caton, Shadow on the Creek
51
verb
To get something stuck or held up on something.
52
verb
To put your oars into the water so they grip it at the start of each stroke.
53
verb
Of a plant, to start growing and make roots.
54
verb
In computer code, to deal with an error when it happens.
55
verbarchaic
To make the most of a good chance right when it comes.
56
verb
Of bait or fishing gear, to be good or bad for catching fish.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of catch apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from Latin words meaning "to take" or "to seize." It is related to the word "chase."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Catch came through Middle English and Old French from Latin. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin ancestry includes a verb meaning to take or seize. en.wiktionary.org
Catch is etymologically related to chase. en.wiktionary.org