catching

[ kach-ing ]

adjective

1. tending to be transmitted from one person to another; contagious or infectious:

   a disease that is catching;

   His enthusiasm is catching.

2. attractive; fascinating; captivating; alluring:

   a catching personality.

catching

/ ˈkætʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. infectious
2. attractive; captivating

Other Words From

• catching·ly adverb
• catching·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catching¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; catch, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Ad-supported streaming services have some catching up to do.

From Digiday

The Terrapins were so injury-riddled at quarterback when he was a freshman that he finished the year catching passes from a converted linebacker.

From Washington Post

He played for Alabama from 1964 to 1966, catching passes from such renowned quarterbacks as Joe Namath, Steve Sloan and Ken Stabler.

From Washington Post

It comes from high-end bicycle company Specialized, and what makes it so eye-catching is that it weighs in at less than 5 pounds.

From Popular-Science

Alphabet, which owns Google, is trying something far more eye-catching in East Africa through an idea that started in 2013 out of Google X, its so called “Moonshot Factory.”

From Quartz

The cameraman was reporting on the factory catching fire when the inevitable happened.

From The Daily Beast

Caen was pitching and I was crouched behind the dish, catching.

From The Daily Beast

I was out, maybe in the Great Barrier Reef catching black marlin.

From The Daily Beast

It was early last week, the weather was catching up with the season.

From The Daily Beast

The Common Core education standards are catching on with parents and teachers.

From The Daily Beast

And since he was too busy catching angleworms for himself to help her and her husband, she wished he would keep out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

"That was a job I had mighty little stomach for," he said, catching my eye and smiling faintly.

From Project Gutenberg

I began to understand a little more, catching, I suppose, something of his strong thinking.

From Project Gutenberg

On rolled the wave of blue, catching and flinging back hundreds of the fleeing Confederates.

From Project Gutenberg

“No visitors allowed aboard,” replied Mr Welton sternly; catching up, nevertheless, a coil of rope.

From Project Gutenberg