catch on

verb

caught on; catching on; catches on

intransitive verb

1
: to become aware : learn
also : understand
didn't catch on to what was going on
2
: to become popular
this idea has already caught on

Examples of catch on in a Sentence

she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis
Recent Examples on the Web Like his emo-country contemporaries, his songs caught on with a young, social-media-savvy demographic. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2024 This is not the first time people have left the Republican nominee's rallies, as they are often caught on film by Newsweek and other outlets. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 Slow shopping also allows for more time to save up for big-ticket items. 73% of shoppers are ‘slow shopping’ Slow shopping is already catching on this year as the antidote to spur-of-the-moment buying habits, which experts largely consider many consumers’ Achilles heel. Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024 The vehicle caught on fire and Hernandez-Garcia was trapped inside, the report states. Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for catch on 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'catch on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of catch on was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near catch on

Cite this Entry

“Catch on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch%20on. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

catch on

verb
1
: to realize something
they had been teasing me, and I never caught on
2
: to become popular
will the new style catch on

More from Merriam-Webster on catch on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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