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Synonyms

catching

American  
[kach-ing] / ˈkætʃ ɪŋ /

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 British  
/ ˈkætʃɪŋ /

adjective

  1. infectious

  2. 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

  • catchingly adverb
  • catchingness noun

Etymology

Origin of catching

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; 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.

But Japan needs to change - and fast, because China has already overtaken it in scale and industrial capacity, while Vietnam and other Asian economies are catching up.

From BBC

He felt as if he were on a surfboard, catching a giant wave, rising, cresting, and sliding back down again.

From Literature

As the lights lowered, she thanked the crowd, the white flower tucked in her hair catching the light as she recited her first poem, “White Sage.”

From Los Angeles Times

"You're catching me at a very vulnerable time," he says, holding his phone after an emotional call with his parents in the US.

From BBC

After catching the attention of a producer in Chengdu, the provincial capital, Mr. Hu was soon emboldened to move to Chengdu, where he has since built a successful career as a rap artist.

From The Wall Street Journal