CATCH ON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does catch on mean? 

• CATCH ON (verb)
  The verb CATCH ON has 2 senses:

1. understand, usually after some initial difficulty

2. become popular

  Familiarity information: CATCH ON used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CATCH ON (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Understand, usually after some initial difficulty

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

catch on; cotton on; get it; get onto; get wise; latch on; tumble; twig

Context example:

She didn't know what her classmates were plotting but finally caught on

Hypernyms (to "catch on" is one way to...):

apprehend; compass; comprehend; dig; get the picture; grasp; grok; savvy (get the meaning of something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become popular

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

This fashion caught on in Paris

Hypernyms (to "catch on" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP