Synonyms of catch in English:

catch

See US English definition of catch

See UK English definition of catch

See Spanish definition of agarrar

verb

1‘he caught the ball’

SYNONYMS

seize, grab, snatch, grab hold of, seize hold of, take hold of, lay hands on, lay one's hands on, get one's hands on, grasp, grip, clutch, clench, fasten on, pluck, hold, hang on to

receive, acquire, get, come into possession of, intercept

ANTONYMS

drop

2‘we've caught a dangerous thief’

SYNONYMS

capture, seize

apprehend, take, arrest, lay hold of, take prisoner, take captive, take into custody, haul in

trap, snare, ensnare

net, hook, reel in, land, beach, bag

informal nab, collar, run in, bust, pull in, do, feel someone's collar

British informal pinch, nick

ANTONYMS

release

3‘the heel of Hannah's shoe had caught in a hole’

SYNONYMS

become trapped, become stuck, stick, become wedged, become entangled, become snarled up, become snagged, snag

4‘she caught the 7.45 bus’

SYNONYMS

be in time for, reach in time, make, get to

board, get on, enter, go on board, go aboard, step aboard, mount, ascend, embark

informal hop on, jump on

formal embus, entrain, emplane

ANTONYMS

miss, alight

5‘they were caught siphoning petrol from a car’

SYNONYMS

discover, detect, find, come across, come upon, stumble on, chance on, light on, bring to light, turn up, expose, find out, unmask

surprise, take by surprise, catch unawares, catch off guard, catch red-handed, catch in the act, catch out, burst in on

6‘it was the business scheme that had caught his imagination’

SYNONYMS

engage, capture, attract, draw, gain, grab, arrest, seize, hold, win, absorb, engross, rivet, grip, captivate, bewitch

7‘she caught a faint trace of discreet aftershave’

SYNONYMS

perceive, notice, observe, discern, detect, note, become aware of, make out, spot, see

British informal clock

ANTONYMS

miss

8‘I had to strain my ears to catch what she was saying’

SYNONYMS

hear, perceive, recognize, discern, make out

understand, comprehend, grasp, take in, fathom, puzzle out, apprehend, get to the bottom of, unravel, decipher

follow, keep up with

informal get, get the drift of, get the hang of, catch on to, latch on to, make head or tail of, figure out, get the picture, get the message

British informal twig, suss out, suss

9‘the scenes caught the flavour of London in the sixties’

SYNONYMS

evoke, conjure up, suggest, summon up, call to mind, recall, express, reproduce, represent, show, encapsulate, capture, record

film, photograph, draw, paint

10‘the blow caught her on the side of her face’

SYNONYMS

hit, strike, slap, smack, crack, bang, connect with, contact

ANTONYMS

miss

11‘he served in Macedonia, where he caught malaria’

SYNONYMS

become infected with, contract, get, take, become ill with, become sick with, fall ill with, fall sick with, be taken ill with, show symptoms of, succumb to, develop, come down with, go down with, sicken for, fall victim to, be struck down with, be stricken with

British go down with

informal take ill with

North American informal take sick with

ANTONYMS

shake off, escape

12‘as the kindling caught he added larger pieces of wood’

SYNONYMS

ignite, become ignited, burn, start burning, flame, catch fire, take fire, burst into flames, flame up, kindle

ANTONYMS

go out

13‘the generator caught immediately’

SYNONYMS

start, start running, fire, begin working, go, function, operate

ANTONYMS

stop

noun

1‘he scooped up the net to inspect the catch’

SYNONYMS

haul, net, bag, take, yield, booty, prize

2‘I think you're a good catch’

SYNONYMS

eligible man, eligible woman, prospect, marriage prospect, match, suitable husband, suitable spouse, suitable wife

3‘he put a hand inside the window, trying to slip the catch’

SYNONYMS

latch, lock, fastener, fastening, clasp, hasp, hook, bar, clip, bolt

Scottish sneck, snib

4‘the suspicious customer is always looking for the catch’

SYNONYMS

snag, disadvantage, drawback, stumbling block, hitch, fly in the ointment, joker in the pack, pitfall, complication, problem, hiccup, hindrance, difficulty, setback, hurdle, downside, minus

trap, trick, snare, wile, dodge

British disbenefit

informal ploy, con

5‘there was a catch in her voice’

SYNONYMS

tremor, unevenness, shake, shakiness, quiver, quivering, wobble

Phrases

catch it

‘I'll catch it if he finds me here’

SYNONYMS

be reprimanded, be scolded, be rebuked, be taken to task, be admonished, be chastised, be castigated, get into trouble, be hauled over the coals

be told off, be for it, be for the high jump, get into deep water, get into hot water, get into shtook, get a dressing-down, get an earful, get a roasting, get a rocket, get a rollicking, get a rap over the knuckles, get a slap on the wrist

catch up

‘he stopped and waited for Lily to catch up’

SYNONYMS

draw level

get to, come to, reach

gain on, gain

catch on

1‘as radio caught on, politicians became increasingly aware of the medium's power’

SYNONYMS

become popular, take off, become fashionable, come into fashion, come into vogue, boom, flourish, thrive

informal become trendy, become all the rage

2‘it's double Dutch to me at the moment, but I catch on fast’