Caught
/kɔːt/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo successfully seize or grasp something moving or in flight.
/kɔːt/
To capture or seize something.
The police caught the thief.
💡 Simply: To grab something that's moving, like a ball, or to get sick.
👶 For kids: To grab something.
More Examples
I caught the bus just in time.
How It's Used
"The goalkeeper caught the ball."
"I caught a cold."
To become affected by an illness.
/kɔːt/
To be affected by something unexpectedly.
He caught a cold.
💡 Simply: To get sick, like a cold or the flu.
👶 For kids: To get sick suddenly.
More Examples
She caught pneumonia.
How It's Used
"I caught the flu."
Unexpectedly trapped or affected.
/kɔːt/
(Informal) Trapped, ensnared.
I was caught in a traffic jam.
💡 Simply: Stuck or trapped unexpectedly.
👶 For kids: Stuck somewhere you don't want to be.
More Examples
He was caught red-handed.
How It's Used
"I was caught in the rain."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
caught red-handed
Caught in the act of committing a crime or wrongdoing.
"The thief was caught red-handed trying to leave the building."
Past tense and past participle of "catch." Originating from Old English "caccian," meaning "to seize, grasp."
The word 'caught' has maintained a consistent meaning across historical periods, predominantly relating to seizing and grasping, both literally and figuratively.
Memory tip
Think of a cat catching a mouse.
Word Origin
"To seize, grasp"