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
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2
as in spreading
exciting a similar feeling or reaction in others
a catching smile that instantly puts patients at ease
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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
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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
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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
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4
as in securing
to put securely in place or in a desired position
caught back her hair with a barrette
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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
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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
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7
as in encountering
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
I'll catch you at the library tomorrow
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of catching
Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024
For the upcoming Scotch & Soda summer 2025 season, key menswear trends include:
Bold Patterns and Prints: Expect to see a resurgence of vibrant, eye- catching patterns in union with beach stripes and patterns.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
After his recovery, a healthy Hunter finished strong in 2023 and then really took off this season, catching passes from Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son, and becoming Colorado’s first Heisman Trophy finalist in 30 years.
—Mike Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catching 
Adjective
Another trend sweeping TikTok and catching young male attention is called auramaxxing.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Oct. 2024
For the upcoming Scotch & Soda summer 2025 season, key menswear trends include:
Bold Patterns and Prints: Expect to see a resurgence of vibrant, eye- catching patterns in union with beach stripes and patterns.
—Fairchild Studio, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
Verb
A week ago, Wilson expressed his frustrations on the sideline during the victory against the Jaguars after catching three passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
After his recovery, a healthy Hunter finished strong in 2023 and then really took off this season, catching passes from Shedeur Sanders, the coach’s son, and becoming Colorado’s first Heisman Trophy finalist in 30 years.
—Mike Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catching
Adjective
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Raw milk and some types of raw cheese can be a source of many kinds of germs, and lab tests show that bird flu virus in raw milk can be infectious.CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024
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Taking place in a heavily quarantine world, a 'rage virus' was unwittingly released from an animal testing facility and unleashed on the public, turning them into vicious, cannibalistic killers with highly infectious properties.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But despite the headline-grabbing incidents, authorities say crime is actually down in New York and on its transit systems.Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 23 Dec. 2024
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Dell was visibly hurt after grabbing his knee and not making much movement.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Tom Allen’s defense completely rattled the Mustangs and now they’ll be challenged with stopping a Broncos team that ranks fourth in the FBS in scoring offense.Jayna Bardahl, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
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They were tasked with stopping Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.Jay Harris, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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More attention to be applied to Zero Trust risk management strategies, from vulnerability assessments and securing code from production throughout the life cycle.Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
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Combine this with other measures—such as freezing ChexSystems, locking your Social Security number, and securing your SSA account—to build a comprehensive shield against identity theft.Alex Vakulov, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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When encountering medical situations that don't require a police response, the teams have assisted until the fire department can arrive.Melissa Santos, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
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Normally, encountering that many smiling faces might seem a bit suspect, but people are just plain happy.Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Hanage foresees wastewater analysis being used to track other communicable viruses, like mpox.Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Oct. 2024
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This misconception tends to be due to the rise in influenza and other communicable respiratory infections in the colder months.Patty Weasler, RN, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
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This might involve granting clearance to select staff, contracting with specialized cybersecurity firms, or enhancing internal information technology capabilities.Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
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The disappearing chat feature is part of a Google Workspace suite that is accessible to about 26,000 employees and has been available in some form since the early 2010s, when the city began contracting with Google for email and other services, Magos said.Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Yoon's martial law decree and parliamentary impeachment have triggered a political storm, disrupting state affairs, halting high-level diplomacy and sending shockwaves through financial markets at a time when the country was already grappling with a faltering economy.KIM TONG-HYUNG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 21 Dec. 2024
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While many storks continue to follow these traditional routes, some populations in western Europe have adapted to milder winters and abundant food supplies by halting their migrations and overwintering closer to their breeding grounds.Scott Travers, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near catching
Cite this Entry
“Catching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catching. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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