catch - thesaurus entry

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing.These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are morefrequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

verb

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1
to stop and hold something that is moving through the air, especially an object that someone throws
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To hold something or someone: hold on, carry, hang on, grab, grasp, grip, clutch, cradle, keep hold of something, hold tight... more
1. a.
  to stop and keep hold of someone who is falling
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To stop someone or something from falling: catch, prop up, hold up, support, break someone’s fall, steady yourself, shore up, bear, brace... more
2. b.
  if a container catches liquid or small objects or pieces, they fall into it when it is below them
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To contain something: include, contents, contain, fit, catch, house, harbor, accommodate, hold, have... more
3. c.
  to be the catcher in baseball
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To perform an action in baseball: balk, bat, baulk, bunt, catch, double, fly, foul, ground out, hit... more
2
to get hold of and stop someone you have been chasing so that they cannot escape
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To put a person or animal in a place they cannot leave: shut in, imprison, confine, pen in, lock in, shut away, trap, restrict, restrain, quarantine... more
1. a.
  to take hold of someone or a part of their body with your hands
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To try to hold something: catch, catch at, claw, clutch, dip into, fumble, grab at, grasp at, juggle, pounce... more
3
if the police catch someone, they find them and arrest them
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
Arresting, interviewing and charging suspects: apprehend, apprehension, arrest, arrest, body search, book, bounty hunter, breathalyze, breath test, bust... more
4
to stop an animal, bird, or insect and prevent it from escaping, especially using a trap
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
Hunting, shooting and fishing: angling, bag, bait, big game, bite, bite, blood sports, capture, cast, cast... more
1. a.
  to hunt and stop an animal in order to kill and eat it
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  Hunting, shooting and fishing: angling, bag, bait, big game, bite, bite, blood sports, capture, cast, cast... more
2. b.
  to get a fish from a river, lake, or the ocean, using a fishing net or rod
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  Hunting, shooting and fishing: angling, bag, bait, big game, bite, bite, blood sports, capture, cast, cast... more
5
to get on a train, bus, airplane, or boat that is traveling somewhere
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To get on and off of tranport: get on, board, transfer, embark, catch, change, disembarkation, off, on, deplane... more
1. a.
  to arrive in time to get on a train, bus, airplane, or boat that is traveling somewhere
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To get on and off of tranport: get on, board, transfer, embark, catch, change, disembarkation, off, on, deplane... more
6
to find someone doing something that they do not expect you to see, especially something wrong or illegal
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To notice or recognize something or someone: notice, recognize, observe, identify, pick out, spot, detect, discern, tell, discover... more
7
to get a disease or illness
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To have or develop an illness or symptom: suffer, get, contract, come down with, develop, catch, have, afflict, go down with, invade... more
8
to find someone in a situation that they are not expecting or prepared for
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To notice or recognize something or someone: notice, recognize, observe, identify, pick out, spot, detect, discern, tell, discover... more
9
to find someone available to talk by going to or telephoning them at the place where they are
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
General words meaning to say something: say, talk, speak, communicate, enunciate, address, utter, express yourself, put (something) into words, verbalize... more
10
to hit someone on a part of their body
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To hit a person: hit, beat, smack, bludgeon, thump, batter, beat up, stun, punch... more
1. a.
  to hit part of your body on something by accident
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To hit a part of your body against something: bang, bump, catch, crack, stub, trip, walk into... more
11
to become stuck on something, or to make something do this
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
Unable to move or be moved: stuck, immobile, immovable, stunned, frozen, rigid, paralyzed, catatonic, rooted/glued/frozen to the spot... more
12
to start to burn
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To burn, or to start a fire: burn, light, blaze, flame, ignite, go up, catch, kindle, catch fire... more
13
informal to see, watch, or listen to something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To listen: listen, hear out, hear from, listen in, eavesdrop, read someone’s lips, hang on someone’s every word, follow, strain your eyes/ears, heed... more
14
to discover a problem or medical condition and stop it from becoming worse
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To successfully deal with a problem or difficulty: cope, overcome, carry off, surmount, work out, handle, manage, shrug off, get through... more
15
to have a sudden effect on something such as someone’s attention or imagination
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To have an effect on someone's emotions or attitudes: influence, decide, lead to, grip, stir, skew, give, catch, pack a punch, color... more
16
to see or smell something for a very short time
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To see or not see someone or something: see, make out, spot, witness, glimpse, pick out, catch, observe, fall... more
17
to hear something that someone says
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To hear something: hear, make out, receive, overhear, catch, discern, see/hear things, read, mishear... more
18
to show or represent something in a way that people can easily recognize
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To be a sign or symbol of something: signify, indicate, stand for, symbolize, represent, mean, identify, betray, proclaim, denote... more
19
if light catches something, or if something catches the light, the light shines on it and makes it look bright and shiny
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
What light can do: reflect, flood, fade, filter, waver, bend, focus, catch, bathe, play... more
20
if the wind or a wave catches something, it gets behind or under it and suddenly blows or pushes it hard
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
What liquids can do: break, burst, cast up, catch, channel, come in, course, crest, dash, deepen... more

phrases

be caught in the middle
to be involved in a disagreement between other people
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
Ending, solving and avoiding arguments and fights: arbitrate, break up, bridge-building, buckle, call off, compromise, compromise, concede, concession, conciliate... more
be caught with your pants down
informal
to be embarrassed by something that happens because you are not prepared for it
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To be, or to become ashamed or embarrassed: be ashamed of someone, blush, wince, feel bad (about something), make a fool of yourself, cringe, be caught with your pants down, reproach yourself, feel awful, hang your head... more
be/get caught (up) in something
to become unexpectedly involved in an unpleasant or annoying situation
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To be in, or to get into a difficult situation: suffer, undergo, come under, endure, incur, go through, be in dire/desperate straits, be (caught/stuck) between a rock and a hard place, be in the grip of something, not know where/which way to turn... more
catch your breath
1. 1
  to take time to start to breathe normally again after physical exercise
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To breathe, or to have difficulty breathing: breathe, blow, sigh, inhale, choke, gulp, gasp, puff, catch your breath, fight for breath... more
2. 2
  to stop breathing suddenly for a short time because you are surprised or impressed
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To be shocked or surprised: be taken aback, marvel, start, wonder, shudder at, reel, boggle, do a double take, catch your breath, not know what hit you... more
catch someone’s eye
1. 1
  if something catches your eye, you suddenly notice it
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  To be, or to become obvious or noticeable: stand out, jump out at, leap out at, stick out, stare someone in the face, stand out in a crowd, dominate, get noticed, leap off the page, shine through... more
2. 2
  to get someone’s attention by looking at them
  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
  General words meaning to look or not look: look around, look, check on, examine, stare, inspect, survey, take in, see, gaze... more
catch the sun
to be in a sunny position
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
To be in a particular position or place: occupy, set, exist, lie, sit, stand, there is/are etc., concentrate, belong, get... more
catch you later
spoken
used for saying goodbye to someone when you expect to see them soon, or later the same day
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
Ways of saying goodbye: goodbye, good night, see you, all the best, adios, aloha, ciao, farewell, take it easy, catch you later... more
you won’t/wouldn’t catch someone doing something
used for saying that it is very unlikely that someone will or would do something
*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*
Not likely to happen: unlikely, doubtful, remote, improbable, inconceivable, dim, I don’t suppose, you’ll be lucky, there is no question of something, long odds... more

phrasal verbs

These are synonyms and/or related words for catch in the American English Thesaurus. View synonyms and/or related words for catch in the British English Thesaurus.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

showmance

a romantic relationship between two members of the cast of a play, film or television series

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soapstone

a type of soft stone that is often carved to make decorations

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human-readable

able to be read and understood by people

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catch - thesaurus entry

What are red words?

Related dictionary definitions

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

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*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

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*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

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*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

phrases

be caught in the middle

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

be caught with your pants down

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

be/get caught (up) in something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

catch your breath

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

catch someone’s eye

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

catch the sun

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

catch you later

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

you won’t/wouldn’t catch someone doing something

*American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch*

phrasal verbs

showmance

Word of the Day

soapstone

human-readable

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch

American English synonyms or related words for this sense of catch