What does "catch" mean?
The act of seizing or capturing.
Catch
/kat͡ʃ/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of seizing or capturing.
- Grammar: catch is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: snatch, haul, capture, capture.
- Useful contrasts: shy, advantage, aluminum can project.
- Usage evidence: You will not be able to catch the train.
How to use "catch"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "catch" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "catch" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "catch" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "catch" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "catch" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "snatch" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "catch", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of seizing or capturing. countable
"The catch of the perpetrator was the product of a year of police work."
- 2 the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal) wordnet
- 3 The act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball. countable
"The player made an impressive catch."
- 4 the act of catching an object with the hands wordnet
- 5 The act of noticing, understanding or hearing. countable
"Good catch. I never would have remembered that."
Show 27 more definitions
- 6 a cooperative game in which a ball is passed back and forth wordnet
- 7 The game of catching a ball. uncountable
"The kids love to play catch."
- 8 a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window wordnet
- 9 Something which is captured or caught. countable
"The fishermen took pictures of their catch."
- 10 a restraint that checks the motion of something wordnet
- 11 A find, in particular a boyfriend or girlfriend or prospective spouse. broadly, colloquial, countable
"Did you see his latest catch?"
- 12 a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident wordnet
- 13 A stopping mechanism, especially a clasp which stops something from opening. countable
"She installed a sturdy catch to keep her cabinets closed tight."
- 14 a break or check in the voice (usually a sign of strong emotion) wordnet
- 15 A hesitation in voice, caused by strong emotion. countable
"There was a catch in his voice when he spoke his father's name."
- 16 anything that is caught (especially if it is worth catching) wordnet
- 17 A concealed difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation. countable
"It sounds like a great idea, but what's the catch?"
- 18 a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect wordnet
- 19 A crick; a sudden muscle pain during unaccustomed positioning when the muscle is in use. countable
"I bent over to see under the table and got a catch in my side."
- 20 the quantity that was caught wordnet
- 21 A fragment of music or poetry. countable
"In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road."
- 22 A state of readiness to capture or seize; an ambush. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"You lie at the catch again: this is not for edification."
- 23 A crop which has germinated and begun to grow. countable
"There was a good catch of rye and a good fall growth."
- 24 A type of strong boat, usually having two masts; a ketch. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"Fourteene miles Northward from the river Powhatan, is the river Pamaunke, which is navigable 60 or 70 myles, but with Catches and small Barkes 30 or 40 myles farther."
- 25 A type of humorous round in which the voices gradually catch up with one another; usually sung by men and often having bawdy lyrics. countable
"Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch / You taught me but while-ere?"
- 26 The refrain; a line or lines of a song which are repeated from verse to verse. countable
"The phrase repeated itself like the catch of a song."
- 27 The act of catching a hit ball before it reaches the ground, resulting in an out. countable
"It was he who removed Peter Bowler with the help of a good catch at third slip."
- 28 A player in respect of his catching ability; particularly one who catches well. countable
"[…] in the field he is all activity, covers an immense amount of ground, and is a sure catch."
- 29 The first contact of an oar with the water. countable
"They are sitting up straighter, breaking their arms at the catch and getting on a terrific amount of power at the catch with each stroke."
- 30 A stoppage of breath, resembling a slight cough. countable
"When a Scot pronounces water, better, or bottle—wa’er, be’er, or bo’le—the sound is precisely that of the catch; […]."
- 31 Passing opportunities seized; snatches. countable, uncountable
"the way it has been writ in, by catches, and many long intervals of interruption"
- 32 A slight remembrance; a trace. countable, uncountable
"We retain a catch of those pretty stories."
Verb
- 1 To capture, overtake.; To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape). transitive
"I hope I catch a fish."
- 2 come down with wordnet
- 3 To capture, overtake.; To entrap or trip up a person; to deceive. transitive
"And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words."
- 4 delay or hold up; prevent from proceeding on schedule or as planned wordnet
- 5 To capture, overtake.; To marry or enter into a similar relationship with. dated, figuratively, transitive
"The public[…]said that Miss Bogardus was a suffragist because she had never caught a man; that she wanted something, but it wasn't the vote."
Show 63 more definitions
- 6 be struck or affected by wordnet
- 7 To capture, overtake.; To reach (someone) with a strike, blow, weapon etc. transitive
"If he catches you on the chin, you'll be on the mat."
- 8 grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of wordnet
- 9 To capture, overtake.; To overtake or catch up to; to be in time for. transitive
"If you leave now you might catch him."
- 10 detect a blunder or misstep wordnet
- 11 To capture, overtake.; To unpleasantly discover unexpectedly; to unpleasantly surprise (someone doing something). transitive
"He was caught on video robbing the bank."
- 12 discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state wordnet
- 13 To capture, overtake.; To travel by means of. transitive
"catch the bus"
- 14 become aware of wordnet
- 15 To capture, overtake.; To become pregnant. (Only in past tense or as participle.) rare, transitive
"Had Nancy got caught with a child? If so she would destroy her parent's dreams for her."
- 16 be the catcher wordnet
- 17 To seize hold of.; To grab, seize, take hold of. dated, transitive
"I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me."
- 18 catch up with and possibly overtake wordnet
- 19 To seize hold of.; To take or replenish something necessary, such as breath or sleep. transitive
"I have to stop for a moment and catch my breath"
- 20 succeed in catching or seizing, especially after a chase wordnet
- 21 To seize hold of.; To grip or entangle. transitive
"My leg was caught in a tree-root."
- 22 to hook or entangle wordnet
- 23 To seize hold of.; To be held back or impeded. intransitive
"Be careful your dress doesn't catch on that knob."
- 24 cause to become accidentally or suddenly caught, ensnared, or entangled wordnet
- 25 To seize hold of.; To engage with some mechanism; to stick, to succeed in interacting with something or initiating some process. intransitive
"Push it in until it catches."
- 26 spread or be communicated wordnet
- 27 To seize hold of.; To have something be held back or impeded. transitive
"I caught my heel on the threshold."
- 28 reach with a blow or hit in a particular spot wordnet
- 29 To seize hold of.; To make a grasping or snatching motion (at). intransitive
"He caught at the railing as he fell."
- 30 take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of wordnet
- 31 To seize hold of.; To spread or be conveyed to. transitive
"The fire spread slowly until it caught the eaves of the barn."
- 32 capture as if by hunting, snaring, or trapping wordnet
- 33 To seize hold of.; To grip (the water) with one's oars at the beginning of the stroke. transitive
"Stop gathering, in that gradual fashion, and catch the water sharply and decisively."
- 34 take in and retain wordnet
- 35 To seize hold of.; To germinate and set down roots. intransitive
"The seeds caught and grew."
- 36 attract and fix wordnet
- 37 To seize hold of.; To contact a wave in such a way that one can ride it back to shore. transitive
"If you are surfing a wave through the rocks, make sure you have a clear route before catching the wave."
- 38 apprehend and reproduce accurately wordnet
- 39 To seize hold of.; To handle an exception. transitive
"When the program catches an exception, this is recorded in the log file."
- 40 attract; cause to be enamored wordnet
- 41 To intercept.; To seize or intercept an object moving through the air (or, sometimes, some other medium). transitive
"I will throw you the ball, and you catch it."
- 42 reach in time wordnet
- 43 To intercept.; To seize (an opportunity) when it occurs. archaic, transitive
"she internally resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself,[…]."
- 44 suffer from the receipt of wordnet
- 45 To intercept.; To end a player's innings by catching a hit ball before the first bounce. transitive
"Townsend hit 29 before he was caught by Wilson."
- 46 perceive with the senses quickly, suddenly, or momentarily wordnet
- 47 To intercept.; To play (a specific period of time) as the catcher. intransitive, transitive
"He caught the last three innings."
- 48 see or watch wordnet
- 49 To receive (by being in the way).; To be the victim of (something unpleasant, painful etc.). transitive
"You're going to catch a beating if they find out."
- 50 hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers wordnet
- 51 To receive (by being in the way).; To be touched or affected by (something) through exposure. transitive
"The sunlight caught the leaves and the trees turned to gold."
- 52 perceive by hearing wordnet
- 53 To receive (by being in the way).; To become infected by (an illness). transitive
"Everyone seems to be catching the flu this week."
- 54 get or regain something necessary, usually quickly or briefly wordnet
- 55 To receive (by being in the way).; To spread by infection or similar means. intransitive
"Does the sedition catch from man to man?"
- 56 check oneself during an action wordnet
- 57 To receive (by being in the way).; To receive or be affected by (wind, water, fire etc.). intransitive, transitive
"The bucket catches water from the downspout."
- 58 start burning wordnet
- 59 To receive (by being in the way).; To acquire, as though by infection; to take on through sympathy or influence. transitive
"She finally caught the mood of the occasion."
- 60 To receive (by being in the way).; To be hit by something. transitive
"He caught a bullet in the back of the head last year."
- 61 To receive (by being in the way).; To serve well or poorly for catching, especially for catching fish. intransitive
"The nets caught well, and Mr. Deeley reported it the best fishing ground he ever tried."
- 62 To receive (by being in the way).; To get pregnant. intransitive
"Well, if you didn't catch this time, we'll have more fun trying again until you do."
- 63 To take in with one's senses or intellect.; To grasp mentally: perceive and understand. transitive
"Did you catch his name?"
- 64 To take in with one's senses or intellect.; To take in; to watch or listen to (an entertainment). informal, transitive
"I have some free time tonight so I think I'll catch a movie."
- 65 To take in with one's senses or intellect.; To reproduce or echo a spirit or idea faithfully. transitive
"You've really caught his determination in this sketch."
- 66 To seize attention, interest.; To charm or entrance. transitive
"No, a far more natural beauty caught him."
- 67 To seize attention, interest.; To attract and hold (a faculty or organ of sense). transitive
"He managed to catch her attention."
- 68 To notice.
"-You made a typo. -Ah, thanks for catching that."
Example
"You will not be able to catch the train."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "catch"?
Common synonyms include: snatch, haul, capture, capture, collar, grab.
How do you use "catch" in a sentence?
You will not be able to catch the train.
How do you pronounce "catch"?
Pronounced /kat͡ʃ/.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kap- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *kapyéti Proto-Indo-European *kaptós Proto-Italic *kaptos Vulgar Latin captus Proto-Indo-European *-yetider. Vulgar Latin -io Vulgar Latin *captiāre Old French chacierbor. Anglo-Norman cachierbor. Middle English cacchen English catch From Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-Norman cachier, variant of Old French chacier, from Late Latin captiāre, from Latin captāre, frequentative of capere. Akin to Modern French chasser (from Old French chacier) and Spanish cazar, and thus a doublet of chase. Compare ketch. Via PIE cognate with have. Displaced Middle English fangen ("to catch"; > Modern English fang (verb)), from Old English fōn (“to seize, take”); Middle English lacchen ("to catch" and heavily displaced Modern English latch), from Old English læċċan. The verb became irregular, possibly under the influence of the semantically similar latch (from Old English læċċan), whose past tense was lahte, lauhte, laught (Old English læhte), until becoming regularised in Modern English.