catch

The act of stopping and holding something moving through the air, especially a ball.

• That was a great catch!
• She made a catch with one hand.
• The player dropped an easy catch near the boundary.

Common phrases: make a catch, great catch, one-handed catch

The fish or other things that someone has captured.

• The fishermen brought home their catch.
• Today's catch included three large salmon.
• We sold our catch at the market.

How to use it: a catch of something (They returned with a large catch of trout.)

Similar words: haul

Common phrases: daily catch, large catch, catch of fish

The act of taking hold of a person or animal that is trying to escape.

• The escaped dog proved an easy catch.
• The catch of the fugitive followed months of police work.
• The trap allowed a safe catch of the injured fox.

How to use it: the catch of someone/something (The catch of the escaped animal ended a long search.)

Similar words: capture, apprehension

Opposites: release

Common phrases: successful catch, catch of someone, easy catch

An old kind of song where several singers sing the same tune, starting at different times.

• The singers performed a lively catch.
• We sang a catch in three parts.
• The concert included catches by seventeenth-century composers.

Similar words: round

Common phrases: sing a catch, three-part catch

To stop and hold something that is moving, usually with your hands.

• Can you catch this ball?
• She caught the glass before it fell.
• He catches the keys I throw to him.

Similar words: grab

Common phrases: catch a ball, catch something, catch with hands

To capture a person or animal that is trying to get away.

• We caught two fish today.
• The police caught the thief near the station.
• This trap catches mice without hurting them.

Similar words: capture, trap, snare

Opposites: release, free

Common phrases: catch a fish, catch a thief, catch a mouse

To hit someone or something, often on a particular part of the body.

• The ball caught him on the shoulder.
• Her elbow caught me in the ribs.
• A bullet caught the soldier in the leg.

How to use it: catch someone on/in something (His elbow caught me on the chin.); catch someone with something (The boxer caught his opponent with a heavy punch.)

Similar words: hit, strike

Opposites: miss

Common phrases: catch someone's chin, catch someone, catch someone's shoulder