catch Meaning & Definition
What Does Catch Mean?
Catch is used as a noun meaning The act of seizing or capturing. It is also used to mean The act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball. As a verb, it means To capture, overtake. To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape). As a verb, it means (heading) To capture, overtake.
Catch at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /kæt͡ʃ/ |
| Synonyms | apprehension, snap and charm |
| Antonyms | unhitch, drop and release |
| Plural | catches |
| Verb forms | catches, catching, caught |
Catch Definition (Noun)
- The act of seizing or capturing.
The catch of the perpetrator was the product of a year of police work.
- The act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball.
The player made an impressive catch.
- The act of noticing, understanding or hearing.
Good catch. I never would have remembered that.
- The game of catching a ball.
The kids love to play catch.
- Something which is captured or caught.
The fishermen took pictures of their catch.
- A find, in particular a boyfriend or girlfriend or prospective spouse.
Did you see his latest catch?
- A stopping mechanism, especially a clasp which stops something from opening.
She installed a sturdy catch to keep her cabinets closed tight.
- A hesitation in voice, caused by strong emotion.
There was a catch in his voice when he spoke his father's name.
- A concealed difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation.
It sounds like a great idea, but what's the catch?
- A crick; a sudden muscle pain during unaccustomed positioning when the muscle is in use.
I bent over to see under the table and got a catch in my side.
- A fragment of music or poetry.
- A state of readiness to capture or seize; an ambush.
- A crop which has germinated and begun to grow.
- A type of strong boat, usually having two masts; a ketch.
- A type of humorous round in which the voices gradually catch up with one another; usually sung by men and often having bawdy lyrics.
- The refrain; a line or lines of a song which are repeated from verse to verse.
- The act of catching a hit ball before it reaches the ground, resulting in an out.
- A player in respect of his catching ability; particularly one who catches well.
- The first contact of an oar with the water.
- A stoppage of breath, resembling a slight cough.
- Passing opportunities seized; snatches.
- A slight remembrance; a trace.
Catch as a Verb
- To capture, overtake.
To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape).
I hope I catch a fish.
- To capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape).
I hope I catch a fish.
- To entrap or trip up a person; to deceive.
- To marry or enter into a similar relationship with.
- To reach (someone) with a strike, blow, weapon etc.
If he catches you on the chin, you'll be on the mat.
- To overtake or catch up to; to be in time for.
If you leave now you might catch him.
- To discover and observe (someone or something while it takes some action or exists) .
He was caught in the act of stealing a biscuit.
- To record, for example on film or tape.
It's the very first time such an elusive bird has been caught on film.
- To travel by means of.
catch the bus
- To become pregnant. (Only in past tense or as participle.)
- To seize hold of.
To grab, seize, take hold of.
I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me.
- To grab, seize, take hold of.
I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me.
- To take or replenish something necessary, such as breath or sleep.
I have to stop for a moment and catch my breath
- To grip or entangle.
My leg was caught in a tree-root.
- To be held back or impeded.
Be careful your dress doesn't catch on that knob.
- To engage with some mechanism; to stick, to succeed in interacting with something or initiating some process.
Push it in until it catches.
- To have something be held back or impeded.
I caught my heel on the threshold.
- To make a grasping or snatching motion (at).
He caught at the railing as he fell.
- To spread or be conveyed to.
The fire spread slowly until it caught the eaves of the barn.
- To grip (the water) with one's oars at the beginning of the stroke.
- To germinate and set down roots.
The seeds caught and grew.
- To contact a wave in such a way that one can ride it back to shore.
- To handle an exception.
When the program catches an exception, this is recorded in the log file.
- To intercept.
To seize or intercept an object moving through the air (or, sometimes, some other medium).
I will throw you the ball, and you catch it.
- To seize or intercept an object moving through the air (or, sometimes, some other medium).
I will throw you the ball, and you catch it.
- To seize (an opportunity) when it occurs.
- To end a player's innings by catching a hit ball before the first bounce.
Townsend hit 29 before he was caught by Wilson.
- To play (a specific period of time) as the catcher.
He caught the last three innings.
- To receive (by being in the way).
To be the victim of (something unpleasant, painful etc.).
You're going to catch a beating if they find out.
- To be the victim of (something unpleasant, painful etc.).
You're going to catch a beating if they find out.
- To be touched or affected by (something) through exposure.
The sunlight caught the leaves and the trees turned to gold.
- To become infected by (an illness).
Everyone seems to be catching the flu this week.
- To spread by infection or similar means.
- To receive or be affected by (wind, water, fire etc.).
The bucket catches water from the downspout.
- To acquire, as though by infection; to take on through sympathy or influence.
She finally caught the mood of the occasion.
- To be hit by something.
He caught a bullet in the back of the head last year.
- To serve well or poorly for catching, especially for catching fish.
- To get pregnant.
Well, if you didn't catch this time, we'll have more fun trying again until you do.
- To take in with one's senses or intellect.
To grasp mentally: perceive and understand.
Did you catch his name?
- To grasp mentally: perceive and understand.
Did you catch his name?
- To notice, to detect.
-You made a typo. -Ah, thanks for catching that.
- To take in; to watch or listen to (an entertainment).
I have some free time tonight so I think I'll catch a movie.
- To reproduce or echo a spirit or idea faithfully.
You've really caught his determination in this sketch.
- To seize attention, interest.
To charm or entrance.
To attract and hold (a faculty or organ of sense).
He managed to catch her attention.
- To charm or entrance.
- To attract and hold (a faculty or organ of sense).
He managed to catch her attention.
Noun
- (by extension) A find, in particular a boyfriend or girlfriend or prospective spouse.
Did you see his latest catch?
- (sometimes noun adjunct) A concealed difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation.
Be careful, that's a catch question.
Verb
- (heading) To capture, overtake.
- (heading) To seize hold of.
- (heading) To intercept.
- (heading) To receive (by being in the way).
- (heading) To take in with one's senses or intellect.
- (heading) To seize attention, interest.
- (heading) To obtain or experience
Synonyms of Catch
Antonyms of Catch
Catch in a Sentence
The catch of the perpetrator was the product of a year of police work.
The player made an impressive catch.
Nice catch!
Good catch. I never would have remembered that.
The kids love to play catch.
The fishermen took pictures of their catch.
The catch amounted to five tons of swordfish.
Did you see his latest catch?
He's a good catch.
She installed a sturdy catch to keep her cabinets closed tight.
There was a catch in his voice when he spoke his father's name.
It sounds like a great idea, but what's the catch?
Be careful, that's a catch question.
I bent over to see under the table and got a catch in my side.
I hope I catch a fish.
He ran but we caught him at the exit.
The police caught the robber at a nearby casino.
If he catches you on the chin, you'll be on the mat.
If you leave now you might catch him.
I would love to have dinner but I have to catch a plane.
He was caught in the act of stealing a biscuit.
It's the very first time such an elusive bird has been caught on film.
He was caught on video robbing the bank.
Lying in wait, camera at the ready, I managed to catch a hummingbird on video today, after being too slow getting my camera out yesterday.
catch the bus
I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me.
I have to stop for a moment and catch my breath
I caught some Z's on the train.
My leg was caught in a tree-root.
Be careful your dress doesn't catch on that knob.
His voice caught when he came to his father's name.
Push it in until it catches.
The engine finally caught and roared to life.
I caught my heel on the threshold.
He caught at the railing as he fell.
The fire spread slowly until it caught the eaves of the barn.
The seeds caught and grew.
When the program catches an exception, this is recorded in the log file.
I will throw you the ball, and you catch it.
Watch me catch this raisin in my mouth.
Townsend hit 29 before he was caught by Wilson.
He caught the last three innings.
You're going to catch a beating if they find out.
The sunlight caught the leaves and the trees turned to gold.
Her hair was caught by the light breeze.
Everyone seems to be catching the flu this week.
The bucket catches water from the downspout.
The trees caught quickly in the dry wind.
She finally caught the mood of the occasion.
And the next thing I knew, I had caught feelings for her.
He caught a bullet in the back of the head last year.
Well, if you didn't catch this time, we'll have more fun trying again until you do.
Did you catch his name?
Did you catch the way she looked at him?
-You made a typo. -Ah, thanks for catching that.
I have some free time tonight so I think I'll catch a movie.
You've really caught his determination in this sketch.
He managed to catch her attention.
The enormous scarf did catch my eye.
a campaign that caught the whole nation's imagination
Word Forms & Grammar
catch (countable and uncountable, plural catches)
catch (third-person singular simple present catches, present participle catching, simple past and past participle caught)
Words That Rhyme With Catch
Origin of Catch
Origin 1: 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.
Origin 2: 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.
Questions People Ask About Catch
Is catch a noun or a verb?
Catch is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for catch?
Words with a similar meaning to catch include apprehension, snap and charm. See the full list of catch synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of catch?
The plural of catch is catches.
What is the past tense of catch?
The past tense of catch is caught. The present participle is catching.