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caught

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verb

past tense of catch
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as in chased
to move fast enough to get even with despite the suspect's considerable lead, the fleet-footed police officer was able to catch him and make an arrest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of caught
Verb
When their 30-foot boat caught fire, the Sullivans were forced to swim to shore for safety, according to ABC News. Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025 Combined with an intense summer heat wave, the surge caught many residents off guard, said Alex Ambrose, a transportation and climate policy analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025 Many journalists, authors, and investigators have voiced doubts about these convictions, believing that the real Monster of Florence was never caught. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025 In July 2025, Faris caught the eye of Katie, who had rescued greyhounds from the organization in the past and felt ready to help another dog. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 Hank’s colleague, the enigmatic Alma (Julia Roberts), is subsequently caught between the two—the student who worships her, and one of her closest friends. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025 The global survey on cancer and Lebanon's troubling trends with the disease caught the attention of members of the Lebanese parliament. Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Oct. 2025 The truck then caught fire, according to the post. Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 Visitors are caught in the reflection of a store offering 50% off on all items on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on July 16, 2024. Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caught
Adjective
  • The French fright fest features a very pregnant widow (Alysson Paradis) who sees her home invaded on Christmas Eve by a mysterious woman in black (Beatrice Dalle) dead set on cutting her baby out with some scissors.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
  • After arranging a trip to the vet the next day, Coranez learned that the orange cat was, in fact, female—and pregnant with five kittens due in just two days, on October 14.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the third quarter, as the Lakers grabbed firm control of the game, Deandre Ayton ignited the crowd by attacking the basket with force.
    Dan Woike, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The teen said Cairo then ordered him to get down on his knees, and at one point grabbed his shoulder in an attempt to push him to the ground – ultimately leaving him feeling threatened, according to WPTV.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Washington got some more concerning news just hours before kickoff on Monday.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Her partner's mom got OP's daughter a gift, but none of her partner's siblings did.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As part of that process, Netflix stopped disclosing its subscribers at the end of last year.
    Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Weekly updates from the more specific FluView have stopped, as have summary reports from RESP-NET that tracks hospitalizations for Covid-19, flu and RSV from a network of hospitals across the country.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Add Bamboo Stakes Once the wire is secured, measure bamboo stakes to match the width of each trellis.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Her team secured $89,000 in grant funding from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati that will be put toward the lot’s security guard.
    Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Steve Coppell knew how to manage people, play the right tactics and give us the freedom to express ourselves.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But [director] Amy Heckerling knew what the goal was, and adults existed only as teachers in that movie.
    Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To stop this quarterback, Mizzou can’t get tricked by his illusions.
    Chase Gemes, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Another legend explains how in the distant past, the nefarious Lake Nyos was formed from the decomposing body of a Kom chief whose people had been tricked and murdered by the Bamessi tribe.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to federal sources, Singh was first encountered by Border Patrol agents in California’s El Centro Sector in March 2022 and released into the interior pending an immigration hearing.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The storm’s intensity has made these flights especially dangerous, as crews have encountered severe turbulence within the hurricane’s eyewall.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Caught.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caught. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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