1
as in infectious
capable of being passed by physical contact from one person to another
a cold is often catching before the symptoms even begin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in grabbing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in getting
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 stopping
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 securing
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 knowing
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 tricking
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 encountering
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 noticing
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 chasing
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
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 catching
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2026
The designs are eye catching and beautiful, inspired by South Florida's beaches and ocean water.
—
Najahe Sherman,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Care Resource,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The only big fish in my area are pike, so the object of my research suddenly switched from catching lots of fish to catching big fish.
—
Jack G. Mell,
Outdoor Life,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Adjective
The Braves gained four years and millions of dollars by substituting Olson for Freeman at first base – even though one of those traded was slugging catching prospect Shea Langeliers.
—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2026
The designs are eye catching and beautiful, inspired by South Florida's beaches and ocean water.
—
Najahe Sherman,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
Every March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of preventing and catching cancer early.
—
Care Resource,
Miami Herald,
2 July 2026
The only big fish in my area are pike, so the object of my research suddenly switched from catching lots of fish to catching big fish.
—
Jack G. Mell,
Outdoor Life,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
-
Lynn's infectious personality and ongoing quest for selfies made her someone that everyone wanted to know, and her sharp wit kept readers coming back for more.
-
The traveler was infectious while passing through Los Angeles County, potentially exposing others at LAX and the Hilton Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
Verb
-
Americans are grabbing their passports and fleeing the country in hopes of leaving the nation’s problems behind.
-
Swanson argues those behind-the-scenes improvements have done more to modernize logistics than many of the industry’s headline-grabbing automation projects.
Verb
-
Farmer, who had a right forearm strain, went 2-for-20 with a home run at Columbus while getting reps at catcher.
-
Reaching such a stage would be the third World Cup final in succession for France, after getting their hands on the trophy in 2018 and losing to Argentina last time around.
Verb
-
Technology led to the suspect's arrest Officers obtained doorbell camera footage, which showed a silver SUV stopping along a curb on Majors Choice Drive.
-
Its compact size and functional interior and exterior pockets will make zipping through airport security or stopping for gas on road trips a breeze — no more digging through disorganized totes to locate your wallet and phone.
Verb
-
In today's competitive job market, being seen by decision-makers is paramount for securing roles and fostering career growth.
-
There are Americans who rely on them, and the lowest disruption way forward is to create a pathway to staying here while securing our southern border.
Verb
-
Marketing has always required senior-level judgment and knowing which levers to pull, why and when.
-
This reportedly includes not giving guests many details about the wedding, with people invited instructed to arrive in New York, without knowing when and where the wedding will be.
Verb
-
The schemes involve a predator pretending to be a teenager online and tricking victims into sending illicit photos of themselves.
-
Such techniques typically work by tricking the user into approving a request to approve a device owned by the attacker instead.
Verb
-
Heaton recalled encountering a farmer in Uganda while volunteering there.
-
Salonen found renewal not from the desperation of rethinking but from freshening, illuminating the perception of exceptional young musicians first encountering greatness.
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
