catching
Americanadjective
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tending to be transmitted from one person to another; contagious or infectious.
a disease that is catching;
His enthusiasm is catching.
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attractive; fascinating; captivating; alluring.
a catching personality.
adjective
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infectious
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attractive; captivating
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.
As of 10 a.m., firefighters remained at the scene “trying to remove paper from the building to stop it from catching on fire,” Hsiao said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
A wave of blockbuster earnings in tech is catching a couple software companies, too.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Treasury yields have been steadily rising lately, likely catching bargain-hunters’ attention.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
"I ended up having a severe breakdown due to the people that were living there and my past catching up with me," said Hannah.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
Daniel said, hanging from the beak by his back legs, his hands grabbing Zeke’s, catching him, saving his life.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
