26984 words

catch

43 definitions • 66 examples
1
to take hold of something, especially something that is moving through the air:

Examples:

catch hold of He caught hold of my arm.
I managed to catch the glass before it hit the ground.
We saw the eagle swoop from the sky to catch its prey.
Our dog ran past me and out of the house before I could catch it.
We placed saucepans on the floor to catch (= collect) the drops of water coming through the roof.
The batsman was caught (out) (= someone in the other team caught the ball when he hit it).
2
to find and stop a person or animal that is trying to escape:

Examples:

Great pressure was put on the police to catch the terrorists as soon as possible.
[ + -ing verb ] Two armed men were caught trying to cross the frontier at night.
They were happy because they had caught a lot of fish that day.
figurative I can see you're busy right now, so I'll catch you (= speak to you) later.
3
to discover, see, or realize something, especially someone doing something wrong:

Examples:

[ + -ing verb ] He caught her reading his old love letters.
If the virus is caught (= discovered) in time, most patients can be successfully treated.
4
to make someone notice something and feel interested:

Examples:

A ship out at sea caught his attention.
5
to not have something, especially when it is needed:

Examples:

He doesn't like to be caught without any biscuits in the house.
6
said to mean that you will certainly not see someone doing a particular thing or in a particular place:

Examples:

You won't catch me at work after four o'clock.
7
to travel or be able to travel on an aircraft, train, bus, etc.:

Examples:

He always catches the 10.30 a.m. train to work.
8
to be in time to travel on or do something:

Examples:

She was worried that she'd arrive too late to catch the last bus home.
catch the post UK You'll have to run if you want to catch the post (= send something before the post has been collected).
9
to get an illness, especially one caused by bacteria or a virus:

Examples:

catch a cold He caught a cold on holiday.
A lot of children in the school caught measles last term.
10
to manage to hear or see something, so you understand or remember it:

Examples:

I couldn't catch what the announcer said, with all the other noise going on.
Did you catch the car's number plate?
11
to go to a place in order to see or watch something, such as a film or show:

Examples:

Here are some of the exhibitions you should catch this summer.
I was home in time to catch the evening news.
US Would you like to catch a movie some time?
12
to manage to see something for a short time:

Examples:

We caught sight of a rabbit as it hopped into the bushes.
13
to stick somewhere, or to make something stick somewhere:

Examples:

The sleeve of my jacket (got) caught on the door handle and ripped.
Her hair got caught (up) in her hairdryer.
14
to hit something, especially without intending to:

Examples:

be caught in the crossfire Medical teams were caught in the crossfire of the opposing armies.
His head caught the edge of the table as he fell.
15
to become involved in something, often without wanting to:

Examples:

They were having an argument and somehow I got caught up in it.
16
to stop breathing for a moment, or to begin to breathe correctly again after running or other exercise:

Examples:

I had to sit down and catch my breath.
17
If you have caught the sun, the sun has made your skin a slightly darker brown or red colour:

Examples:

You've caught the sun on the back of your neck.
18
If something catches the light, a light shines on it and makes it look shiny:

Examples:

19
to start burning:

Examples:

For reasons which are not yet known, the factory caught fire late yesterday evening.
20
to begin to burn:

Examples:

This wood's too wet, the fire won't catch.
21
an act of catching a ball or other object that is moving through the air:

Examples:

I missed the catch and threw the ball back to him rather crossly.
She grabbed the glass just before it hit the floor. "Good catch," he said.
22
the activity of throwing and catching something, usually a ball, for fun:

Examples:

play catch We didn't have a ball so we played catch with a lime.
game of catch I remember games of catch in the playground when I was growing up.
23
in sports such as cricket and baseball, an act of ending an opponent's turn to hit the ball by taking hold of a ball that they have hit before it touches the ground:

Examples:

make a catch Crowe made a fine catch in the outfield.
She dived full length and pulled off an amazing catch.
24
a fish or an amount of fish caught:

Examples:

The fishermen were disappointed with their catch that day.
One of my best catches was a big silver salmon.
25
a hidden problem or disadvantage:

Examples:

what's the catch Free food? It sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?
26
an act of noticing a mistake or problem and doing something to correct or solve it:

Examples:

Thanks for pointing out that the picture has the wrong caption. Good catch!
A car stopped for a traffic offence turned out to be stolen, so that was a good catch.
27
a small device on a door, window, bag, etc. that keeps it fastened
28
a person who is considered to be very suitable as a romantic or marriage partner:

Examples:

My mother considered a doctor to be a good catch.
Her new boyfriend's not much of a catch really, is he?
29
a feeling of stiffness in part of your body:

Examples:

She would complain of catch in the joints during winter.
30
to take or get hold of a moving object, or to hold and prevent someone from getting away:

Examples:

[ I ] She tossed him the car keys and yelled, “Catch!”
[ T ] He sneaked into the fairgrounds without paying and hoped nobody would catch him.
31
to discover, find, or become aware of something:

Examples:

If the disease is caught in time, most patients get well quickly.
I hope I catch all the mistakes in my term paper.
32
to see or hear something or someone, or to understand:

Examples:

I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch what you said.
33
to travel or be able to travel on a train, bus, aircraft, etc.:

Examples:

He always caught the 6:05 train out of Grand Central.
34
to get an illness:

Examples:

I caught a cold.
35
a hidden problem or disadvantage:

Examples:

That sales price sounds too good to be true – there must be a catch to it somewhere.
36
a small device with a movable part that is used to fasten something:

Examples:

The catch on the bracelet is broken.
37
the act of taking hold of something that is thrown or comes through the air:

Examples:

[ C ] The ball was hit well, but the centerfielder made a leaping, one-handed catch to end the game.
38
Catch is also the activity of throwing and receiving a ball with another person:

Examples:

[ U ] My kids are always begging me to play catch.
39
to surprise someone and cause difficulty for them:

Examples:

A lot of taxpayers will be caught off guard by their new tax liability
40
to get someone's attention, or to be noticed by someone:

Examples:

The high-profile plan has caught the eye of a national audience.
41
to become involved in something, often without wanting to:

Examples:

The firm was caught up in the near-collapse of one of the world's largest hedge funds.
42
a hidden problem or disadvantage:

Examples:

The catch is that during the calendar year you can only make six withdrawals from your account.
43
a new employee that a company is very pleased to have because they are very valuable:

Examples:

He is a super-bright economist who is a real catch for the department.

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