catching

American

[kach-ing] / ˈkætʃ ɪŋ /

adjective

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

a disease that is catching;
His enthusiasm is catching.
attractive; fascinating; captivating; alluring.

a catching personality.

catching British

/ ˈkætʃɪŋ /

adjective

infectious
attractive; captivating

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of catching

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is also now Liongsgate Studios' most successful movie, ahead of 2013's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

Catching a cancer or heart condition early on could be lifesaving.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Catching one of these impacts as it happens is extremely difficult.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

Catching herself, she adds, “If my husband reads this, he’ll be like, ‘I’m sorry, what?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Catching and roasting rats became a passion for Shin.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023