catch 1 of 2

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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
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
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
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
Verb
  • Christina Aguilera didn't let the haters get her down early in her career.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 June 2025
  • His parents weren't totally aware of his unusual spot to get a few hours of rest.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 13 June 2025
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
Verb
  • SpaceX teams then raced to retrieve the floating spacecraft and its crew of four, helping secure the Dragon and hoist it onto a recovery vessel.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 June 2025
  • Grand Slam tournaments offer the most ranking points on tour, and by reaching the final, both Sabalenka and Gauff have secured 1,300 points.
    Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • As someone who lost their father before doing Top Chef and knowing the fire that can ignite someone going into this competition is unattainable.
    Buddha Lo, People.com, 13 June 2025
  • Newsom said in a court filing on Thursday that troops had moved beyond those allowable duties to actively assist ICE agents in making arrests, in violation of a federal law known as the Posse Comitatus Act, which is designed to prevent the military from being used as a domestic police force.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • Geragos asked Jane about presents that Diddy lavished upon her, for example, seemingly to suggest that his gift-giving indicated a romantic relationship, not a ruse to trick her into kink.
    Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 11 June 2025
  • Phishing pages masquerade as banks, auction sites, and other sensitive sites, hoping to trick victims into logging in.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 11 June 2025
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
Verb
  • La Rue claims Leto was observing her so intensely that her mother noticed.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
  • Nineteenth-century Americans did not simply notice hair’s unusual properties.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catch. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on 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!