catch - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

catch

Third Person

catches

Present Participle

catching

Past Tense

caught

Past Participle

caught

to stop and hold an object that is moving through the air

transitive

Be careful to catch the egg without breaking it.
In his last game, the baseball player caught a fast pitch.
It might sound a bit strange, but my dog loves to catch a frisbee.
She practiced how to catch a tennis ball in her spare time.
The goalkeeper is going to catch the ball in the next match.

Synonyms:

grab take hold of

to capture or grab something or someone using methods like hunting, chasing, or trapping

transitive

The fisherman patiently waited to catch a big trout in the river.
The cat stealthily crept up to catch a mouse in the garden.
The spider used its web to catch insects for food.
The hunter set up traps to catch game in the forest.
The hunter caught several rabbits using strategically placed traps.

Synonyms:

capture

to reach and get on a bus, aircraft, or train in time

transitive

He left his meeting early in order to catch his flight home.
She caught the bus just in time for her morning class.
She usually catches the 8 a.m. metro to the university.
They caught the late-night bus back to their hotel.
They plan to leave the party early to catch the last ferry back home.

to get sick, usually with bacteria or a virus

transitive

Be careful around him; you don't want to catch the flu.
Be careful when visiting the hospital, so you don't catch an infection.
Children in school often catch and spread germs quickly.
Many people caught the virus during the winter.
The crowded train is a place where you can easily catch a cold.

Synonyms:

get

to arrive at a location or be present at a specific time to witness or experience something

transitive

We hurried to catch the movie before it started at the theater.
She wanted to catch the sunrise at the beach, so she woke up early and drove there before dawn.
He tried to catch his favorite radio show every morning before heading to work.
They rushed to catch the opening act of the play, arriving just in time to find their seats.
I hope we can catch the speaker's presentation at the conference tomorrow afternoon.

Synonyms:

view take in watch see

to discover someone in the act of doing something wrong or incriminating

The teacher caught the students cheating on the exam and immediately confiscated their cheat sheets.
I caught my roommate stealing money from my wallet when I walked into the room unexpectedly.
She caught her partner lying about their whereabouts.
The auditor caught the employee embezzling funds.
The parents caught their children sneaking out of the house late at night.

to realize or perceive something that was previously unnoticed

transitive

He caught the subtle hint in her words and understood what she truly meant
The detective caught an inconsistency in the suspect's alibi, leading to further investigation.
She caught the disapproving look on her boss's face and realized she had made a mistake.
He caught the underlying sadness in her voice and offered his support.

to assume the role of the catcher in a sports game

transitive

He was called upon to catch the final inning of the softball game.
The starting catcher caught the first six innings of the baseball game before being replaced by a backup player.
She was called upon to catch the extra innings of the softball game.
The young catcher was given the opportunity to catch the entire second game of the doubleheader.
The veteran catcher caught the first four innings of the exhibition match.

to apprehend or capture something or someone, often after chasing them

transitive

The police caught the fleeing suspect after a high-speed chase.
The security guard caught the shoplifter and held them until the police arrived.
The police officer caught the purse snatcher, tackling them to the ground.
The soldier caught the enemy spy, intercepting their attempts to gather classified information.
The farmer caught the runaway horse, bringing it back to the stable safely.

Synonyms:

capture get

(of an object) to get caught or snagged in another object or substance

Her necklace caught in the branches of a tree as she walked through the forest.
The kite caught on a power line and couldn't be retrieved without assistance.
The fishing line caught on a rock underwater, causing the fisherman to lose his bait.
I was wearing loose clothing, and my sleeve caught on the doorknob.
As he was running, his shoelace caught in a crack on the pavement, causing him to stumble.

Synonyms:

hitch

Antonyms:

unhitch

(of fire) to spread or extend to various objects, areas, or structures

transitive

The sparks from the fireworks caught the roof of the building.
The fire caught the nearby trees, rapidly spreading through the forest.
The kitchen fire caught the cabinets, leading to significant damage.
The burning debris caught the adjacent building, causing the fire to extend to the neighboring property.
The sparks from the fireplace caught the carpet, quickly spreading throughout the room.

to land a hit or strike on a target, making contact with the intended object or person

transitive

The boxer threw a powerful punch and caught his opponent on the chin, knocking him down.
The martial artist executed a swift kick and caught his opponent in the chest.
The fencer lunged forward and caught her opponent on the arm, earning a point in the match.
The martial artist delivered a spinning kick and caught her opponent in the head
The martial artist executed a lightning-fast punch and caught his opponent in the ribs.

Synonyms:

get

to captivate or enchant someone through charisma or attractiveness

transitive

The singer's soulful voice and stage presence caught the audience.
Her infectious smile and warm personality caught everyone in the room.
The charismatic politician's speech caught the crowd.
The talented dancer's graceful movements caught the judges, earning her high praise and recognition.
The storyteller's engaging narrative style caught the children.

Synonyms:

enamor becharm enchant beguile enamour charm fascinate trance entrance bewitch capture captivate

to comprehend or perceive spoken words, often requiring attention or concentration

transitive

I couldn't quite catch what she said over the noise of the traffic.
She spoke softly, and I strained to catch her words from across the room.
The professor's accent was thick, making it hard for the students to catch every word of the lecture.
He mumbled something under his breath, and I struggled to catch what he was saying.
Despite the poor reception, I managed to catch the gist of her message on the phone.

Synonyms:

get

to collect and keep something for further use or possession

transitive

The pitcher caught rainwater in a bucket for later use.
The sponge caught the spilled milk, preventing it from spreading across the floor.
She caught the rain in a bucket to water her plants during the dry season.

to capture and accurately reflect the essence, energy, or intention of a spirit or idea

transitive

The actor's portrayal of the historical figure caught the essence of their personality.
The musician's rendition of the classic song caught the original spirit.
The play's adaptation to the screen successfully caught the spirit of the original theatrical production.
The writer's article caught the spirit of the protest.
The chef's dish caught the essence of the region's culinary tradition.

Synonyms:

get

to notice or see something briefly

transitive

As she walked through the garden, she caught sight of a rare butterfly fluttering among the flowers.
He caught a glimpse of the sunset through the trees as he drove along the winding mountain road.
He caught a fleeting scent of flowers as he walked past the garden.
The hiker caught a glimpse of a deer darting through the forest before it vanished into the trees.
During the hike, they caught sight of a majestic eagle soaring high above the mountains.

Synonyms:

pick up

to experience or receive the impact of something, often in a negative or harmful way

transitive

He caught a bullet in his shoulder during the shootout.
The boxer caught a powerful punch to the jaw, sending him to the canvas.
The car caught the full force of the collision.
The building caught the brunt of the storm, with strong winds causing structural damage.
The victim caught a severe beating from the assailants, leading to multiple injuries and bruises.

to ignite and start to burn

As the firefighters arrived, the old house's rafters had already caught.
The paper caught and quickly turned to ash in the fireplace.
The logs caught, and the campfire roared to life.
The dry brush caught, and the wildfire spread rapidly through the forest.

to surpass or overtake someone or something, often in a race, competition, or pursuit

transitive

The car accelerated and caught the slower vehicle in front.
The cyclist caught the group ahead and joined them in the final stretch of the race.
The airplane accelerated down the runway and caught the preceding aircraft.
The cyclist caught the leading rider on the final climb and made a decisive move to take the race victory.
The race car driver skillfully caught the car ahead on a sharp turn.

Synonyms:

catch up with overtake

to regain something essential for one's well-being or functioning

transitive

After running a marathon, the exhausted runner stopped to catch his breath.
After a long day of work, he collapsed onto the couch to catch some sleep.
The hiker reached the mountaintop and sat down to catch her breath.
He stepped outside to catch some fresh air.
The office worker stepped away from the computer to catch a moment of peace.

to notice or observe an error, mistake, or misjudgment made by someone

transitive

The editor caught a spelling mistake in the manuscript before it went to print.
The accountant caught an error in the financial statement.
The detective caught a discrepancy in the suspect's alibi during the investigation.
The manager caught a mistake in the project timeline, ensuring necessary adjustments were made.
The referee caught the player's foul during the game and issued a penalty accordingly.

Synonyms:

trip up

to comprehend or capture the meaning or essence of something

transitive

It took me a moment to catch the significance of her words.
After reading the article a few times, I finally caught the main idea and understood the author's perspective.
After listening intently, she caught the main points of the lecture.
The team huddled together to discuss the strategy, making sure everyone caught the game plan.

Synonyms:

get

to have a part of one's body or clothing become entangled or trapped in something

transitive

She caught her sleeve on a nail sticking out from the fence and tore a hole in her shirt.
I caught my foot in the tree root and stumbled while walking through the forest.
He caught his finger in the door as it slammed shut, resulting in a painful injury.
She caught her hair in the zipper of her jacket and had to carefully untangle it.
She caught her earring on a branch while hiking, and it pulled painfully on her earlobe.

to reflect briefly to reassess one's actions, behavior, or thoughts

transitive

I caught myself before saying something hurtful.
She caught herself starting to procrastinate and reminded herself of the importance of staying focused.
I caught myself getting defensive during the argument and took a deep breath to respond calmly.
I caught myself slipping into negative self-talk and replaced it with positive affirmations.
He caught himself about to make an impulsive purchase and reconsidered its necessity.