catch

plural catches

1. countableThe act of seizing or capturing.

   The catch of the perpetrator was the product of a year of police work.

2. countableThe act of catching an object in motion, especially a ball.

   Nice catch!

   1 more example

   The player made an impressive catch.

3. countableThe act of noticing, understanding or hearing.

   Good catch. I never would have remembered that.

   1 more example

   "In that case," said Jeff, "I just thought of something else we need." He walked over to one of the stations that was selling household goods and bought a can opener. "Nice catch," said Lucy.

   2008, John I. Carney, Soapstone, page 74

   Synonyms: observation

4. uncountableThe game of catching a ball.

   The kids love to play catch.

5. countableSomething which is captured or caught.

   The fishermen took pictures of their catch.

   2 more examples

   The catch amounted to five tons of swordfish.

   He mused on memorable catches: dolphin fish, marlin—the last weighing more than 500 pounds.

   1987 October, Charles E. Cobb, Jr., “North Carolina's Outer Banks”, in National Geographic, volume 172, number 4, page 498

   Synonyms: haul, take

6. broadlycolloquialcountableA find, in particular a boyfriend or girlfriend or prospective spouse.

   He's a good catch.

   3 more examples

   Did you see his latest catch?

   Mr. Alfred O'Shea, a tenorizing youth from Australia, sang several times at Queen's Hall, and may congratulate himself on being one of the ‘catches’ of the season. He sang airs from Italian and French operas, and also a number of Irish ditties—naturally, with a name like that and such an ingratiating McCormackian voice.

   1922 August 1, “London Concerts”, in The Musical Times

   "Aaaugh! Just once, I wish I could be considered a catch by men younger than fifty..."

   2014 July 10, Jocelyn Samara D., Rain (webcomic), Comic 561 - A Catch

   Synonyms: prize, find, conquest, beau

7. countableA stopping mechanism, especially a clasp which stops something from opening.

   She installed a sturdy catch to keep her cabinets closed tight.

   Synonyms: stop, chock, clasp, hasp, latch

8. countableA hesitation in voice, caused by strong emotion.

   There was a catch in his voice when he spoke his father's name.

9. countablesometimes noun adjunctA concealed difficulty, especially in a deal or negotiation.

   Be careful, that's a catch question.

   1 more example

   It sounds like a great idea, but what's the catch?

   Synonyms: hitch, snag, problem, trick, gimmick, hitch

10. countableA 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.

11. countableA fragment of music or poetry.

    In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.

    1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266

    1 more example

    "'Fair Enslaver!'" cried Mr. Enderby. "You must know 'Fair Enslaver:' there is not a sweeter catch than that. Come, Miss Ibbotson, begin; your sister will follow, and I—" But it so happened that Miss Ibbotson had never heard 'Fair Enslaver.'

    1872, Harriet Martineau, Deerbrook, page 90

    Synonyms: snatch, fragment, snippet, bit

12. countableobsoleteuncountableA state of readiness to capture or seize; an ambush.

    You lie at the catch again: this is not for edification.

    1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, Part I Section 3

    1 more example

    The common and the canon law […] lie at catch, and wait advantages one against another.

    1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI)

13. countableagricultureA crop which has germinated and begun to grow.

    There was a good catch of rye and a good fall growth.

    1905, Eighth Biennial Report of the Board of Horticulture of the State of Oregon, page 204

14. countableobsoleteuncountableA type of strong boat, usually having two masts; a ketch.

    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.

    1612, John Smith, Map of Virginia, Kupperman, published 1988, page 158

15. countableentertainmentA type of humorous round in which the voices gradually catch up with one another; usually sung by men and often having bawdy lyrics.

    Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch / You taught me but while-ere?

    1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

    1 more example

    One night, I remember, we sang a catch, written (words and music) by Orlo Williams, for three voices.

    1966, Allen Tate, T. S. Eliot: The Man and His Work, page 76

16. countableentertainmentThe refrain; a line or lines of a song which are repeated from verse to verse.

    The phrase repeated itself like the catch of a song.

    2003, Robert Hugh Benson, Come Rack! Come Rope!, page 268

    Synonyms: chorus, refrain, burden

17. countableball gamesThe act of catching a hit ball before it reaches the ground, resulting in an out.

    It was he who removed Peter Bowler with the help of a good catch at third slip.

    1997 May 10, Henry Blofeld, “Cricket: Rose and Burns revive Somerset”, in The Independent

18. countableball gamesA player in respect of his catching ability; particularly one who catches well.

    […] in the field he is all activity, covers an immense amount of ground, and is a sure catch.

    1894 September 16, “To Meet Lord Hawke's Team”, in The New York Times, page 21

19. countablehobbiesThe first contact of an oar with the water.

    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.

    1935 June 7, Robert F. Kelley, “California Crews Impress at Debut”, in The New York Times, page 29

20. countablehuman sciencesA stoppage of breath, resembling a slight cough.

    The glottal stop or glottal catch is the sound used in English in the informal words uh-huh 'yes' and uh-uh 'no'.

    2006, Mitsugu Sakihara et al., Okinawan-English Wordbook, →ISBN

    1 more example

    When a Scot pronounces water, better, or bottle—wa’er, be’er, or bo’le—the sound is precisely that of the catch; […].

    1891 February–December, Robert Louis Stevenson, In the South Seas […], New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1896, →OCLC

21. countableuncountablePassing opportunities seized; snatches.

    the way it has been writ in, by catches, and many long intervals of interruption

    1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Introduction”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC

22. countableuncountableA slight remembrance; a trace.

    We retain a catch of those pretty stories.

    1665, Joseph Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica: Or, Confest Ignorance, the Way to Science; […], London: […] E. C[otes] for Henry Eversden […], →OCLC

present singular third person catches · participle present catching · participle past caught · past caught · first person past singular caught · first person nonstandard past singular catched · archaic present second person singular catchest · past second person singular caught · nonstandard past second person singular catched · archaic past second person singular caughtest · archaic past second person singular catchedst · present singular third person catches · archaic present singular third person catcheth · past singular third person caught · nonstandard past singular third person catched · past plural caught

1. To capture, overtake.
   1. transitiveheadingTo capture or snare (someone or something which would rather escape).First known use 13th c.

      I hope I catch a fish.

      2 more examples

      He ran but we caught him at the exit.

      The police caught the robber at a nearby casino.

   2. transitiveheadingTo entrap or trip up a person; to deceive.First known use 14th c.

      And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

      1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 12:13

   3. datedfigurativelytransitiveheadingTo marry or enter into a similar relationship with.

      "She caught this blanquito guy from El Condado," and you immediately know "My god, all that money."

      1990 February 4, Vanessa Nemeth, Stephanie Poggi, “Bumps And All”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 29, page 12

      2 more examples

      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.

      1933, Sinclair Lewis, Ann Vickers, page 108

      As for Aspasia, concubinage with Pericles brought her as much honor as she could hope to claim in Athens.[…]from the moment she caught her man, this influential, unconventional woman became a lightning rod[…].

      2006, Michael Collier, Georgia Machemer, Medea, page 23

   4. transitiveheadingTo reach (someone) with a strike, blow, weapon etc.First known use 16th c.

      If he catches you on the chin, you'll be on the mat.

      1 more example

      The visitors started brightly and had an early chance when Valencia's experienced captain David Albeda gifted the ball to Fernando Torres, but the striker was caught by defender Adil Rami as he threatened to shoot.

      2011 September 28, Jon Smith, “Valencia 1-1 Chelsea”, in BBC Sport

   5. transitiveheadingTo overtake or catch up to; to be in time for.First known use 17th c.

      If you leave now you might catch him.

      3 more examples

      I would love to have dinner but I have to catch a plane.

      Allen Gregory DeLongpre: Did anyone catch the Charlie Rose the evening before last. Did you catch it? No, nothing?

      2011 Allen Gregory, "Pilot" (season 1, episode 1)

      For reasons I shan’t bore you with, I got them to induce me at 39 weeks, at 10am, with the epidural going in first, and it was all a dream. […] But it was all over in time for my daughter to catch the Nigeria v Argentina World Cup game that evening, during which she seemed to reckon everything was miles offside.

      2014 December 5, Marina Hyde, “Childbirth is as awful as it is magical, thanks to our postnatal ‘care’”, in The Guardian

   6. transitiveheadingTo discover and observe (someone or something while it takes some action or exists) (sometimes, but not always, with implications of 'unpleasantly' or 'unexpectedly').First known use 17th c.

      He was caught in the act of stealing a biscuit.

      1 more example

      Once he caught me gazing lingeringly and eagerly at him. He turned round with that mocking air he assumed when he wanted to hide his feelings.

      1952, Nikos Kazantzakis, chapter 1, in Carl Wildman, transl., Zorba the Greek, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, translation of Βίος και πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά [Víos kai politeía tou Aléxi Zormpá], →ISBN, page 5

   7. transitiveheadingTo record, for example on film or tape.

      He was caught on video robbing the bank.

      2 more examples

      It's the very first time such an elusive bird has been caught on film.

      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.

   8. transitiveheadingTo travel by means of.First known use 19th c.

      catch the bus

      2 more examples

      The glare, the flies, while they waited, and he and the stationmaster put their heads together over the time-table, trying to find this other train, which, of course, they wouldn't catch.

      1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “The Escape”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 273

      After about a kilometer I caught a taxi to Santa Croce.

      1987, A.J. Quinnell, In the Name of the Father, page 111

   9. raretransitiveheadingTo become pregnant. (Only in past tense or as participle.)First known use 19th c.

      Had Nancy got caught with a child? If so she would destroy her parent's dreams for her.

      2002, Orpha Caton, Shadow on the Creek, pages 102–103

2. To seize hold of.
   1. datedtransitiveheadingTo grab, seize, take hold of.First known use 13th c.

      I caught her by the arm and turned her to face me.

      1 more example

      Her aged Nourse, whose name was Glaucè hight, / Feeling her leape out of her loathed nest, / Betwixt her feeble armes her quickly keight […]

      1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   2. transitiveheadingTo take or replenish something necessary, such as breath or sleep.First known use 14th c.

      I caught some Z's on the train.

      1 more example

      I have to stop for a moment and catch my breath

   3. transitiveheadingTo grip or entangle.First known use 17th c.

      My leg was caught in a tree-root.

      1 more example

      So Abſalom took a Pride in his Beauty, and particularly in his long Hair. And Providence ſo orders it, that in his Rebellion againſt his Father [David], vvhen he had loſt the Day, this Hair in his Flight catches on the Bough of a Tree, vvhere Joab found and ſlevv him.

      1708, J[oseph] B[oyse], “Sin the Instrument of the Sinners Punishment. From II. Jerem[iah] 19.”, in Sermons Preach’d on Various Subjects […], Dublin: […] S. Powell, for the use of the author, →OCLC, page 246

   4. intransitiveheadingTo be held back or impeded.

      Be careful your dress doesn't catch on that knob.

      2 more examples

      His voice caught when he came to his father's name.

      Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

      1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

   5. intransitiveheadingTo engage with some mechanism; to stick, to succeed in interacting with something or initiating some process.

      Push it in until it catches.

      1 more example

      The engine finally caught and roared to life.

   6. transitiveheadingTo have something be held back or impeded.

      I caught my heel on the threshold.

   7. intransitiveheadingTo make a grasping or snatching motion (at).First known use 17th c.

      He caught at the railing as he fell.

   8. transitiveheadingTo spread or be conveyed to.First known use 18th c.

      The fire spread slowly until it caught the eaves of the barn.

      1 more example

      The Palace of Deiphobus aſcends / In ſmoaky Flames, and catches on his Friends. / Ucalegon burns next; the Seas are bright / VVith ſplendor, not their ovvn; and ſhine vvith Trojan light.

      1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 247, lines 409–412

   9. transitiveheadingTo grip (the water) with one's oars at the beginning of the stroke.First known use 19th c.

      Stop gathering, in that gradual fashion, and catch the water sharply and decisively.

      1906, Arthur W. Stevens, Practical Rowing with Scull and Sweep, page 63

   10. intransitiveagricultureTo germinate and set down roots.First known use 19th c.

       The seeds caught and grew.

   11. transitiveheadingTo contact a wave in such a way that one can ride it back to shore.

       If you are surfing a wave through the rocks, make sure you have a clear route before catching the wave.

       2001, John Lull, Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue, page 203

   12. transitivecomputingTo handle an exception.First known use 20th c.

       When the program catches an exception, this is recorded in the log file.

3. To intercept.
   1. transitiveheadingTo seize or intercept an object moving through the air (or, sometimes, some other medium).First known use 16th c.

      Watch me catch this raisin in my mouth.

      1 more example

      I will throw you the ball, and you catch it.

   2. archaictransitiveheadingTo seize (an opportunity) when it occurs.First known use 16th c.

      she internally resolved henceforward to catch every opportunity of eyeing the hair and of satisfying herself,[…].

      1811, [Jane Austen], “18”, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

   3. transitiveball gamesTo end a player's innings by catching a hit ball before the first bounce.First known use 18th c.

      Townsend hit 29 before he was caught by Wilson.

   4. intransitivetransitiveball gamesTo play (a specific period of time) as the catcher.First known use 19th c.

      He caught the last three innings.

4. To receive (by being in the way).
   1. transitiveheadingTo be the victim of (something unpleasant, painful etc.).First known use 13th c.

      You're going to catch a beating if they find out.

   2. transitiveheadingTo be touched or affected by (something) through exposure.First known use 13th c.

      Her hair was caught by the light breeze.

      1 more example

      The sunlight caught the leaves and the trees turned to gold.

   3. informaltransitiveheadingTo become infected by (an illness).First known use 16th c.

      Near-synonym: come down with

      1 more example

      Everyone seems to be catching the flu this week.

      Synonyms: contract, acquire, come down with

   4. intransitiveheadingTo spread by infection or similar means.

      Does the sedition catch from man to man?

      1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 31

      1 more example

      He accosted Mrs. Browne very civilly, told her his wife was very ill, and said he was sadly troubled to get a white woman to nurse her: "For," said he, "Mrs. Simpson has set it abroad that her fever is catching."

      1817, Mary Martha Sherwood, Stories Explanatory of the Church Catechism

   5. intransitivetransitiveheadingTo receive or be affected by (wind, water, fire etc.).First known use 18th c.

      The trees caught quickly in the dry wind.

      3 more examples

      The bucket catches water from the downspout.

      the sails caught and filled, and the boat jumped to life beneath us.

      2003, Jerry Dennis, The Living Great Lakes, page 63

      And the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s account of the Grand Pas Classique from “Paquita” […] exemplified the spectacular czarist ideal of ballet that has long since became widely accepted as “classical ballet.” […] It catches an American athleticism and energetic team spirit that still seem to smash European notions of ballet classicism, as does its dancers’ selfless manner and their practicelike costumes.

      2008 June 9, Alastair Macaulay, “In Student Steps and Leaps, a Survey of National Styles”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 28 Jan 2025

   6. transitiveheadingTo acquire, as though by infection; to take on through sympathy or influence.First known use 16th c.

      She finally caught the mood of the occasion.

      1 more example

      And the next thing I knew, I had caught feelings for her.

   7. transitiveheadingTo be hit by something.

      He caught a bullet in the back of the head last year.

      Synonyms: take, get

   8. intransitiveheadingTo serve well or poorly for catching, especially for catching fish.

      The nets caught well, and Mr. Deeley reported it the best fishing ground he ever tried.

      1877, Annual Report of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, page 135

   9. intransitiveheadingTo get pregnant.

      Well, if you didn't catch this time, we'll have more fun trying again until you do.

5. To take in with one's senses or intellect.
   1. transitiveheadingTo grasp mentally: perceive and understand.First known use 16th c.

      Did you catch his name?

      1 more example

      Did you catch the way she looked at him?

      Synonyms: grasp, get

   2. transitiveheadingTo notice, to detect.

      -You made a typo. -Ah, thanks for catching that.

      1 more example

      The B.C. Lottery Corporation commissioned two independent studies that found its voluntary self-exclusion program isn't always catching gamblers who've requested help in staying away.

      2011 August 18, “Problem gambler crackdown coming to B.C. casinos”, in CBC News

   3. informaltransitiveheadingTo take in; to watch or listen to (an entertainment).First known use 20th c.

      I have some free time tonight so I think I'll catch a movie.

      1 more example

      Tom Holland: Gong Xi Fa Cai! It's Tom Holland here. // Mark Wahlberg: And I'm Mark Wahlberg. Catch us in Uncharted this Chinese New Year at GSC. // Tom Holland: Gong Xi Fa Cai!

      2022 January 31, 0:00 from the start, in Tom Holland & Mark Wahlberg Wishes Gong Xi Fa Cai!, GSCinemas, archived from the original on 12 Feb 2022

   4. transitiveheadingTo reproduce or echo a spirit or idea faithfully.First known use 17th c.

      You've really caught his determination in this sketch.

6. To seize attention, interest.
   1. transitiveheadingTo charm or entrance.First known use 14th c.

      No, a far more natural beauty caught him.

      2004, Catherine Asaro, The Moon's Shadow, page 40

   2. transitiveheadingTo attract and hold (a faculty or organ of sense).First known use 17th c.

      He managed to catch her attention.

      3 more examples

      The enormous scarf did catch my eye.

      a campaign that caught the whole nation's imagination

      “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron;[…]. ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.

      1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC