catches on (to)

verb

present tense third-person singular of catch on (to)
1
as in realizes
to come to an awareness of she caught on to the fact that they were planning a surprise party

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knows
to have a clear idea of he finally caught on to the concept of phototaxis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catches on (to)
  1. realizes
  2. knows
  3. discovers
  4. understands
  5. sees
  6. recognizes
  7. hears
  8. deciphers
Verb
  • The gap between what AI produces and what an organization actually realizes in return is bridged almost entirely by human skills.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Other than taxpayers, bodega owners stand to be some of the biggest losers if New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) realizes his dream of city-run grocery stores.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of realizes
Verb
  • Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The honest answer is that in 2026, nobody knows which of them sells more goods to American consumers.
    — Jason Goldberg, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of knows
Verb
  • Seeking refuge from constant bombardment, Anna discovers Bianca, her imaginary double, living in a fantastical town imprisoned by a war of its own.
    — Alexandra Patterson, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Things get spicy when Lowen grows closer to the novelist's husband (Josh Hartnett) and discovers dark bits about Verity's past.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of discovers
Verb
  • Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Churches, neighborhoods, nonprofits, businesses, utilities and government should periodically engage in preparedness exercises so everyone understands their role.
    — Freida Graves, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of understands
Verb
  • No country has marshaled those efforts like China, where the government sees Tibet, and its Himalayan borderlands, as critical to its national and energy security.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Wall Street sees new treatments as an untapped goldmine, full of consumers who are willing to pay out-of-pocket for better options, reminiscent of the boom in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
    — Avalon Pernell, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sees
Verb
  • Rahmani added that a juror not following the rule on reasonable doubt could also indicate where the jury’s head is, and Reddington recognizes that.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Labor Day is a federal holiday that recognizes the social and economic achievements of American workers.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of recognizes
Verb
  • Deadline hears that organizers originally wanted CEO Neal Mohan, which would have been an exceptional booking.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Kumi hears the downstream version of that in her applications.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hears
Verb
  • Qualcomm’s chip can run Linux, along with Arduino software, and can even do computer vision, which deciphers what a camera sees and translates it into software.
    — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
  • With that base knowledge and his opponent’s game tape, Nolan analyzes wide receiver alignments and deciphers the offense's attack.
    — Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Sep. 2025
Definition of deciphers
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

catches one's eye
catches on (to)
catches up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Catches on (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catches%20on%20%28to%29. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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