catch

catchverb

To catch is to take hold of something that is moving or getting away, or to get or notice something just as it passes.

1. take holdtake hold of something that is moving through the air, usually with your hands

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Catch the ball! V + obj
   • He caught the keys with one hand. V + obj
   • The dog jumped up and caught the stick in its mouth. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun catch a ball, catch the keys

   verb + adverb catch something easily, catch something with one hand

   Antonyms drop

2. stop escapingtake hold of a person or an animal and stop them from getting away

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The police caught the thief two days later. V + obj
   • We caught three fish before lunch. V + obj
   • Our cat caught a mouse last night. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun catch a thief, catch a fish, catch a mouse

3. bus or trainreach a bus, train, or plane before it leaves and travel on it

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • I catch the bus to work every day. V + obj
   • We need to leave now to catch the last train. V + obj
   • She caught an early flight home. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun catch a bus, catch a train, catch a flight

   Synonyms make

   Antonyms miss

   Compare take

   For translators (sense 3)

   Meaning across languages Many languages use a word like take for getting on a bus or train; English uses catch or take, and catch often suggests getting there just in time.

4. in timebe in time to see, meet, or hear someone or something

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • If you hurry, you'll catch her before she leaves. V + obj
   • Did you catch the news last night? V + obj
   • We got there late and only caught the end of the show. V + obj

   Antonyms miss

5. illnessget an illness, such as a cold or the flu

   Catch a cold is the usual phrase; catch cold, with no a, is also used, especially in British English.

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • I caught a cold from my brother. V + obj
   • Wash your hands so you don't catch anything. V + obj
   • Half the class caught the flu last winter. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun catch a cold, catch the flu, catch a disease

   Synonyms get; pick up

6. discoversee someone doing something, especially something wrong or secret

   transitive [T] verb + object + -ing form [V + obj + -ing] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The teacher caught him cheating on the test. V + obj + -ing
   • Mari caught her brother reading her diary. V + obj + -ing
   • You won't catch me eating there again! V + obj + -ing (meaning I will never do that)

   Collocations

   phrase catch someone in the act, catch someone red-handed

7. hear or understandhear or understand what someone says

   Often used in negative sentences and questions.

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + wh-clause [V + wh]

   • Sorry, I didn't catch your name. V + obj (negative)
   • I didn't quite catch what he said. V + wh (negative)

8. noticemake someone notice something or become interested in it

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • A bright red sign caught my attention. V + obj
   • Something in the window caught her eye. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun catch someone's attention, catch someone's eye, catch someone's interest

9. get stuckbecome stuck on something, or make part of your body or clothes become stuck

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • My sleeve caught on a nail. V + adv/prep
   • She caught her finger in the door. V + obj + prep + obj
   • His coat got caught in the bicycle wheel. (get caught)

See also catch up (reach someone who is ahead of you); catch on (become popular, or begin to understand)