caught: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “caught” mean?
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'catch': to capture, intercept, seize, or become aware of.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'catch': to capture, intercept, seize, or become aware of.
Can also mean to become infected with an illness, to be present for the beginning of something (e.g., a train), to perceive or understand something suddenly, or to become entangled in something (literal or metaphorical).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily lexical (different vocabulary choices) and orthographic (spelling) in example sentences. Core meaning and usage are identical.
Connotations
None specific to either variety.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “caught” in a Sentence
[Subject] caught [Object][Subject] caught [Object] [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., in/with/by)[Subject] got caught [Prepositional Phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “caught” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He caught the keys she tossed to him.
- They were caught fly-tipping on council land.
- I caught the tail end of the programme on the wireless.
American English
- She caught the pass and scored a touchdown.
- He got caught speeding by a state trooper.
- Did you catch the final episode of that show?
adverb
British English
- This usage is not standard for 'caught'.
American English
- This usage is not standard for 'caught'.
adjective
British English
- The caught fish must meet size regulations.
- A caught thief was led away by the constable.
American English
- The caught ball was ruled an out.
- The caught suspect was read his rights.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Often used for deadlines or market changes: 'We were caught unprepared by the new regulations.'
Academic
Used in scientific contexts: 'The mechanism was caught on high-speed camera.'
Everyday
Very common for illnesses, transport, and discovery: 'I caught the 8 o'clock bus.'
Technical
Can be used in computing/security: 'The firewall caught the malicious packet.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “caught”
- Using 'catched' (non-standard). Confusing 'caught' (catch) with 'cot' (bed) or 'court' in pronunciation.
- Mixing up 'caught' /kɔːt/ and 'cot' /kɒt/ in American English minimal pairs.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'catched' is a common learner error. The correct past tense and past participle is always 'caught'.
'Captured' is often more formal and implies taking control by force (e.g., captured a city, captured data). 'Caught' is more general and everyday (e.g., caught a ball, caught a cold).
In many American accents, these are a minimal pair: 'caught' is typically /kɔːt/ (with a rounded, aw-like vowel), while 'cot' is /kɑːt/ (with a more open, ah-like vowel). However, this distinction is absent in many US dialects where they are homophones.
As the past form of 'catch', it is not used in continuous tenses itself. However, the present participle 'catching' is used (e.g., 'He was catching the ball'). The adjective 'caught' can appear in continuous constructions of other verbs (e.g., 'I'm getting caught up in work').
Past tense and past participle of the verb 'catch': to capture, intercept, seize, or become aware of.
Caught is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “caught between a rock and a hard place”
- “caught napping”
- “caught short”
- “caught in the crossfire”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'taught' – it rhymes and is also an irregular past tense (-aught pattern).
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS GRASPING ('I finally caught his meaning.'), DISCOVERY IS CAPTURE ('They caught him cheating.')
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'caught' used metaphorically?