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

Synonyms

• ascertain
• discover
• find out
• get on (to)
• hear
• learn
• realize
• see
• wise (up)

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

Though both wear hats and masks and keep their heads down, there is one full-face photo caught on the Ring as a delivery man picks up the two-month-old mattress. —Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024

Last year, a tourist was arrested after he was caught on video defacing the wall of the Colosseum in Rome by carving a love note into it. —Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

Two structures caught on fire, the Los Angeles Fire Department said, and there were no reported injuries. —Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

According to Fox News affiliate, KDFW, 29-year-old Terron Deshaun Hadnot was on the run after fleeing from an SUV that was reportedly stolen, and after an entertaining police chase, which was all caught on camera. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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