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 Word Forms

• catchingly adverb
• catchingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of catching¹

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

Example Sentences

Two machines resembling robotic vacuum cleaners sped around a ring colliding, shooting sparks and catching fire, as Iranian engineering students watched from behind plexiglass.

Read more on Barron's

The ball took a tricky hop but Rojas stuck with it, catching the ball behind his left knee and hanging on as the retreating Barger knocked him to the ground.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Hernandez allegedly benefited from some of the votes he cast from the dais, catching the attention of the Riverside County District Attorney’s office.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But China is rapidly catching up, aided by diesel-powered submarines that are quieter, travel faster and can carry advanced weapons.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Dodgers somehow concealed their piñata of a bullpen in the three previous rounds of the postseason, but that bullpen is now catching up with them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times