Definition Synonyms
Definition of caught - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
actioncaptured by someone or something
- The thief was caught by the police.
2.
trappedunable to escape from a situation
- He felt caught in a difficult situation.
3.
unpreparedunexpectedly in a difficult situation
- She was caught off guard by the question.
Expressions with caught
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
unprepared for a situation or event
He was caught looking when the teacher asked him a question.
unable to escape a difficult situation
He felt caught in a trap with no way out.
involved in a difficult situation between two parties
She felt caught in the middle of her parents' arguments.
fully involved in something
She was caught up in the excitement of the concert.
discovered while doing something wrong
He was caught in the act of stealing.
involved in a conflict unintentionally
She was caught in the crossfire during their argument.
unexpectedly unsteady or surprised
She was caught off balance by the sudden news.
being surprised or unready in an embarrassing situation
He was caught with his pants down during the surprise inspection.
become popular or widely accepted by many people
Vlogging has really caught on among teenagers this year.
refuse to be seen in a place or situation
She wouldn't be caught dead at that party.
quickly escalated into a serious problem or conflict
The issue caught fire and led to a big argument.
strongly refuse to do something embarrassing
She would never be caught dead wearing that outfit.
be discovered in the act of wrongdoing
He was caught red-handed stealing the cookies.
facing two difficult choices with no easy solution
She was caught between a rock and a hard place at work.
failing to achieve either of two goals
The project was caught between two stools, neither innovative nor cost-effective.
in a difficult situation with limited options
She was caught in a bind and didn't know what to do.
trapped in a complex situation
She felt caught in a web of lies and deceit.
overwhelmed by current emotions or situation
He made a rash decision because he was caught in the moment.
feeling surprised and not ready for something unexpected
He was caught on the hop by the sudden question.
needing to go to the bathroom suddenly
He was caught or taken short during the long meeting.
have skin darkened or reddened by sunlight exposure
They have caught the sun after a day at the beach..
strongly refuse to do something
He wouldn't be caught dead wearing that hat.
have skin reddened from too much sun exposure
You've caught the sun after the beach trip!
person looking smug after a success
He walked in like a cat that caught the canary.
Origin of caught
Old English, cēpan (to seize)
Terms with caught included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
captured item
something captured or caught
caught off guard
act of taking someone unawares
captivity
caught in a physical trap or enclosure
caught
held tightly around the neck
food
fresh seafood caught within the last 24 hours
deception
be caught in a deceptive or dangerous situation
object
disc-shaped toy thrown and caught
recently caught
fish recently caught, not preserved
avoid capture
hide oneself to avoid being found or caught
games
caught someone in a trick or joke
movement
moving towards being caught or deceived
stealth
move quietly to avoid being seen or caught
concealment
protect someone from being found or caught
catch
quantity of fish or game caught
taken alive
get caught by someone without being killed
surprise
caught off guard or unprepared
unexpected
was caught off guard
nature
animal easily caught by predators
situation
caught in a complicated or compromising situation
baseball
become out by hitting a caught fly ball
hunting
legally allowed to be hunted or caught
wrongdoing
caught doing something wrong or unexpected
captured
caught or trapped in a net
conflict
person caught between two opposing sides
Examples of caught in a sentence
The fish was caught in the net. She was caught in a web of lies. The deer was caught in the fence. He felt caught when the project changed direction. They were caught without a backup plan.
View all translations of caught
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:attrapé, piégé, ...
- German:gefasst, verstrickt, ...
- Italian:catturato, intrappolato, ...
- Spanish:capturado, atrapado, ...
- Portuguese:apanhado, encurralado, ...
- Chinese:被抓住的, 被困的, ...
- Japanese:捕まった, 閉じ込められた, ...
- Arabic:مَقبوض عَلَيه, محاصر, ...
- Hebrew:נִתְפָּס, לָכוּד, ...
- Russian:пойманный, в ловушке, ...
- Ukrainian:спійманий, застряглий, ...
- Hindi:पकड़ा हुआ, फँसा हुआ, ...
Definition of catch - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
grab holdcapture or seize someone or something
- The police catch the thief quickly.
2.
comprehensiongrasp mentally or understand
- I finally caught the concept.
3.
sensesnotice or perceive something
- Did you catch what she said?
4.
sportsintercept an object in motion
- She managed to catch the ball.
5.
contractbecome infected with
- He went out in the rain and caught a cold..
6.
timereach in time for something
- We need to catch the last train.
7.
mindattract or hold attention
- The movie's plot will catch your interest.
8.
interactionsurprise someone doing something
- I caught him sneaking out.
9.
entangleintr. become entangled or stuckintr.
- Her dress caught on the nail.
10.
igniteintr. become ignited or start burningintr.
- The dry leaves caught fire easily.
Noun
1.
sportUS game of throwing and catching a ballUS
- They played catch in the backyard.
2.
captured itemsomething captured or caught
- The catch of fish was plentiful.
3.
taking holdact of capturing or seizing something
- The goalkeeper made a brilliant catch.
4.
mechanicsdevice for fastening or locking
- He secured the door with a sturdy catch..
5.
relationshipperson seen as a good partner
- He's considered a great catch.
6.
dealhidden difficulty in a deal
- There's a catch in the contract.
7.
emotionhesitation in voice from emotion
- There was a catch in her voice.
Images of catch

device for fastening or locking
Expressions with catch
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
become ill with a cold virus
She might catch cold if she goes out without a coat.
pause to breathe after physical activity
After the run, she stopped to catch breath.
start to burn or burst into flames
The dry leaves can easily catch fire.
capture small flying insects
He used a net to catch flies.
make someone notice something
The bright colors caught her attention immediately.
reach someone who is ahead
I had to run to catch up with her on the trail..
become infected with a cold virus
She started sneezing and realized she might catch a cold..
make someone feel shocked or unprepared suddenly
The news caught me by surprise.
grasp something firmly
She reached out to catch hold of the railing..
fresh seafood caught within the last 24 hours
Today's catch of the day is grilled salmon.
understand after some initial difficulty
It took him a while to catch on.
begin to burn suddenly and intensely
The dry leaves can catch on fire easily.
understand or realize something after some time
She finally caught on to the joke.
pause to breathe after physical exertion
After the sprint, he stopped to catch his breath.
attract someone's attention or interest
The glittering ring in the display case caught her eye instantly.
attract someone's attention or curiosity
The colorful ad caught my interest immediately.
spend time outside to enjoy sunlight
Let's go to the park and catch some sun.
understand and follow the beat in music
It took him a while to catch the rhythm of the song.
become updated with the latest information
I need to catch up on the news.
learn news or information missed before
Let's catch up on what happened while I was away.
informal way to say see you soon
Catch you later, I'll be back in an hour.
pause to breathe after physical activity
After the climb, sit down and catch your breath.
attract your attention or interest
The bright colors of the painting catch your eye immediately.
successful action of catching a ball in sports
That was a good catch by the outfielder.
Origin of catch
Latin, captiare (to try to seize)
Examples of catch in a sentence
Farmers catch the stray sheep in the field. Did you catch what he meant by that? I couldn't catch the joke at first. I caught a faint smell of smoke. Did you catch the movement behind the curtain? He tried to catch the frisbee during the game.
The goalkeeper must catch the ball to prevent a goal. She caught the flu from her coworker. He caught a nasty virus while traveling. I hope we can catch the early morning flight tomorrow. She ran fast to catch the bus before it left. The bright poster caught everyone's eye. Her opening question catches the audience's attention. She caught them whispering secrets. He was caught cheating on the test. My sleeve caught in the door. The fishing line caught on a rock. The curtains could catch from a nearby candle. Oil-soaked rags may catch without warning. A game of catch is great for bonding. They enjoyed a quick catch before dinner. The fisherman's biggest catch was a salmon. The ranger examined the catch before releasing it. His one-handed catch saved the game. The police made the catch near the border. The box had a hidden catch. He fixed the catch on the window. Many consider her a real catch in the dating scene. Finding such a catch in this town is rare. The offer seemed great, but there was a catch. Investors were wary of the catch in the proposal. A catch in his voice revealed his nerves. She spoke with a catch, holding back tears.
View all translations of catch
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:attraper, attrape, ...
- German:fangen, Fangen, ...
- Italian:catturare, gioco del lancio e della presa, ...
- Spanish:capturar, lanzamiento y captura, ...
- Portuguese:apanhar, apanha, ...
- Chinese:抓住, 接球游戏, ...
- Japanese:捕まえる, キャッチボール, ...
- Arabic:قَبَضَ, لُعْبَة رَمْي وَالتِقاط الكُرَة, ...
- Hebrew:לִתְפֹּס, תָּפוּס, ...
- Russian:ловить, мяч, ...
- Ukrainian:схопити, ловля м'яча, ...
- Hindi:पकड़ना, कैच, ...
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