Word
catching
Phoneticscatch·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkætʃɪŋ/
UK/kˈætʃɪŋ/
Definitions
01grabbing or receiving
A2 · Elementary
v. the action of grabbing a moving object or getting a sickness.
v. the present participle of 'catch', used in continuous tenses to denote the act of intercepting an object or contracting an illness.
“He was catching the ball when he tripped and fell on the grass.”
“The goalkeeper was catching every shot with ease until the heavy rain made the ball too slippery to handle safely.”
Synonyms
02infectious
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Informal
adj. used to describe a disease or a feeling that spreads easily from person to person.
adj. describing a pathogen or emotional state that is easily transmitted through contact or proximity.
“Be careful because the cold I have is very catching.”
“Her enthusiasm for the project was catching, and soon the entire department was working overtime to meet the deadline.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03attractive
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. something that is very attractive or easy to remember.
adj. possessing a quality that captures interest or is easily recalled; often synonymous with 'catchy' in modern usage.
“The melody was so catching that I hummed it all afternoon.”
“The author has a catching style of prose that keeps the reader engaged even during the more technical chapters of the biography.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04the act of capture
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Sports
n. the act of grabbing or stopping something that is moving.
n. the gerund form functioning as a noun to describe the event or skill of intercepting a moving object.
“His catching has improved a lot since he started practicing every day.”
“The coach focused the afternoon session entirely on catching, as several players had struggled with high balls during the previous match.”
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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