1
as in realizing
to come to an awareness of
she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knowing
to have a clear idea of
he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching on (to)
Verb
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The 61-year-old worked as a driver for Uber and had gone to an address in South Charleston, Ohio, to pick up a package – not realizing the man who lived there had just received threatening calls.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026 -
After realizing she was blocked in, the driver jumped out of the vehicle and started dancing in front of the police.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The level of supervision gives parents a chance to rest easy, knowing that their kids are in good hands.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Typical zero-knowledge proofs require a demonstration of how to build what’s called a simulator, which can re-create the steps of the proof without actually knowing the secret solution.—
Peter Hall,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the simplest case, an unexpected reward (say, discovering some tasty fruit when hungry, or having someone attractive declare their love for you) causes a burst of dopamine release into a part of the basal ganglia known as the striatum—specifically, the nucleus accumbens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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While the popularity of these app-blocking devices increases (Novelli said the company has sold more than 60,000), questions remain about their efficacy when the people who buy them are mainly discovering the devices through the internet—and talking about them on social media.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Through outreach campaigns, reminders, and accessible digital resources, Pet Parent encourages informed ownership practices such as keeping contact information current and understanding local care requirements.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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But understanding how this works — who pays and how, who benefits and how — can help with decision-making.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Health care professionals are now caught between deciphering new legislation and their duty to provide quality care.—
Eleanor Sobel,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
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As an avalanche and dead bodies ratchet up the suspense, Zach must lean on his mother’s wisdom to fight for his life while deciphering a confusing undercurrent of danger, violence and betrayal among the survivors.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Later on Monday, Croft recalled seeing a large tent standing in the middle of the roadway while numerous law enforcement officers investigated the scene.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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The second citation refers to Christ’s reaction to seeing the tomb of Lazarus.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In addition to competitive awards, the DGA presented two special service honors recognizing exemplary contributions to the guild and the industry.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2026
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Those years influenced his view that effective guidance grows from recognizing how the pieces of a client’s life fit together.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In Oklahoma, Pastor Hau Suan Khai started hearing about cancellations from Christian refugees who, like him, had come to the US fleeing persecution in Myanmar.—
Catherine E. Shoichet,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
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The court is in the middle of a four-week break from hearing arguments and issuing opinions.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Catching on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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