Meaning & use
catch
To capture or seize something, especially an object in motion, with the hands.
See it in a sentence
She reached up quickly and managed to catch the vase before it hit the floor.
The goalkeeper leaped sideways to catch the ball just before it crossed the line.
A note on using this word
Catch has many idiomatic uses beyond grabbing objects, such as catch a cold, catch someone's eye, or catch a flight.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A hidden problem, disadvantage, or condition attached to something that seems appealing.
The rent was surprisingly low, so we suspected there had to be a catch somewhere.
3. noun
The total amount of fish or game captured in one outing.
The fishermen weighed their catch and found it was the largest of the season.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “catch”, then compare your use with the examples above.