Catched vs. Caught — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 20, 2024
"Catched" is an incorrect spelling. The correct past tense of "catch" is "Caught." "Caught" means having captured or seized something or someone.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Catched or Caught
How to spell Caught?
Catched
Incorrect Spelling
Caught
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember the rhyme, "If you catch a ball, you've caught it, not catched it."
Double-check with autocorrect; it will correct "catched" to "caught."
The word "taught" is to "teach" as "caught" is to "catch."
"Catched" sounds like "hatched," but "catch" follows a different rule.
Associate "caught" with "bought" as both end with "aught."
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How Do You Spell Caught Correctly?
Incorrect: The police catched the thief in the act.
Correct: The police caught the thief in the act.
Incorrect: The fisherman catched a big fish yesterday.
Correct: The fisherman caught a big fish yesterday.
Incorrect: I catched myself before I said something rude.
Correct: I caught myself before I said something rude.
Incorrect: She catched a cold during her vacation.
Correct: She caught a cold during her vacation.
Incorrect: He catched the ball before it hit the ground.
Correct: He caught the ball before it hit the ground.
Caught Definitions
Past tense of "catch"; to have captured.
She caught the ball at the game.
Detected or found out.
He was caught stealing cookies.
Entrapped or ensnared.
The rabbit was caught in the trap.
Having a certain disease or condition.
I've caught a cold.
Understood or grasped mentally.
I haven't caught the meaning of that phrase.
Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground.
Past tense and past participle of catch.
(cricket) Of the method of being out in which the striker hits the ball and a fielder catches it.
Simple past tense and past participle of catch
Caught Meaning in a Sentence
He caught the early train to get to the meeting on time.
The cat caught the mouse hiding in the kitchen.
They caught a glimpse of the celebrity as he entered the hotel.
The goalkeeper caught the ball, preventing the other team from scoring.
He caught his breath after running to catch the bus.
He was caught off guard by the sudden question.
The firefighter caught the child who jumped from the burning building.
He caught the error before the book went to print.
She caught the mistake in the report and corrected it.
She caught her sleeve on the door handle as she walked by.
She caught up with her friends at the cafe.
She caught the flu from her coworker.
The camera caught the beautiful sunset over the ocean.
The detective caught the criminal after a long investigation.
She caught the bouquet at the wedding.
She caught a whiff of her favorite perfume.
The microphone caught every word of the speech.
He was caught breaking the speed limit.
They were caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella.
They caught the last ferry back to the mainland.
They caught their toddler before he ran into the street.
He caught her eye from across the room.
The teacher caught the student cheating on the test.
The shoplifter was caught by the store's security guard.
The outfielder caught the ball, ending the game.
Caught Idioms & Phrases
Caught between two stools
To be unable to choose between two alternatives.
She felt caught between two stools, unable to decide between the two job offers.
Caught off guard
To be surprised or unprepared for something.
The sudden question from the audience caught the speaker off guard.
Caught in the act
To be discovered doing something, usually something illicit or embarrassing.
He was caught in the act of sneaking out at night.
Caught on the wrong foot
To be unprepared or surprised, resulting in awkwardness or difficulty.
The sudden change in plans caught me on the wrong foot.
Caught red-handed
To be caught in the act of doing something wrong.
The thief was caught red-handed stealing from the store.
Caught my eye
Something that attracted one's attention.
The painting in the gallery really caught my eye.
Caught up in the moment
To be fully engaged or absorbed in the current situation.
They were caught up in the moment and forgot to take pictures.
Caught short
To find oneself in a situation where one is unprepared or lacking something necessary.
I was caught short without an umbrella in the sudden downpour.
Caught with one's hand in the cookie jar
To be caught doing something wrong or forbidden, often in a way that is embarrassing.
The accountant was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, embezzling funds.
Caught a break
To experience a fortunate or timely opportunity.
He finally caught a break when he landed the lead role in the play.
Caught in a bind
To be in a difficult or problematic situation from which it is hard to extricate oneself.
Without the car, she was caught in a bind, unable to get to work on time.
Caught your breath
To pause and rest after a period of exertion, or to recover from a shock.
After the sprint, he stopped to catch his breath.
Caught in the crossfire
To become involved in a situation where people around you are arguing or fighting, and you become a target by association.
I was just a bystander, caught in the crossfire of their argument.
Caught the bug
To develop a strong interest or enthusiasm for something.
After his first guitar lesson, he really caught the music bug.
Caught in a storm
To be involved in a situation that has become suddenly very difficult or unpleasant.
The politician was caught in a storm of controversy.
Caught by surprise
To be taken aback by something unexpected.
The announcement caught everyone by surprise.
Caught a cold
To become sick with a cold.
I must have caught a cold from someone at the office.
Caught in the web
To become involved in a complex or difficult situation.
He got caught in the web of bureaucracy trying to get his license renewed.
Caught in the headlights
To be so surprised or frightened that one is unable to move or think.
She was like a deer caught in the headlights when she saw the surprise party in her honor.
Caught the wind
To overhear something, often used in the context of gaining information.
He caught the wind of their plans to move the company.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Caught?
/kɔːt/
What is the verb form of Caught?
Catch.
What is the root word of Caught?
Catch.
Which vowel is used before Caught?
The vowel "a" is used.
What is the singular form of Caught?
Caught serves as both singular and plural in past tense.
Is Caught an abstract noun?
No.
Why is it called Caught?
It's the irregular past tense form of the verb "catch."
Which article is used with Caught?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, depending on the context.
What is the plural form of Caught?
Caught itself can be plural, depending on the subject.
Which preposition is used with Caught?
Commonly used prepositions include "in," "by," and "on."
Is Caught a negative or positive word?
Neutral; it describes an action.
Which conjunction is used with Caught?
Standard conjunctions such as "and" or "but" can be used.
Is Caught an adverb?
No.
Is Caught a countable noun?
Caught is not a noun.
Is the word Caught a gerund?
No.
What is the opposite of Caught?
Released.
Is Caught a noun or adjective?
Primarily a verb (past tense), but can be used as an adjective in certain contexts.
Is the Caught term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but can be used metaphorically, e.g., "caught in a web of lies."
Is the word Caught imperative?
No.
How many syllables are in Caught?
One syllable.
Which determiner is used with Caught?
Determiners such as "this," "that," "each," etc., can be used.
What is the third form of Caught?
Caught.
Is Caught a vowel or consonant?
The word "Caught" starts with a consonant.
Is Caught a collective noun?
No.
What is a stressed syllable in Caught?
The entire word "caught" is stressed as it's one syllable.
What is another term for Caught?
Captured or seized.
What is the second form of Caught?
Caught.
Is the word “Caught” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Caught can be a direct object when referring to the action of catching.
How do we divide Caught into syllables?
Caught is one syllable and is not divided.
What part of speech is Caught?
Verb (past tense) or adjective.
What is the first form of Caught?
Catch.
How is Caught used in a sentence?
Example: She caught the last train home.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
