Cought vs. Caught — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 27, 2024
"Cought" is an incorrect spelling, while "caught" is the correct past tense of "catch". It denotes having captured or seized something or someone.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Cought or Caught
How to spell Caught?
Cought
Incorrect Spelling
Caught
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Say it as "kawt" in your mind.
Remember "aught" as in "taught" and "brought."
Always double-check with spell-checkers to avoid mistake
"Cough" is a word, but adding "t" makes it incorrect for the past tense of "catch."
Visualize a hand "catching" an "a" to remember "caught."
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How Do You Spell Caught Correctly?
Incorrect: They cought him stealing in the store.
Correct: They caught him stealing in the store.
Incorrect: He cought a cold last week.
Correct: He caught a cold last week.
Incorrect: She cought the ball during the game.
Correct: She caught the ball during the game.
Incorrect: I cought myself thinking about the past.
Correct: I caught myself thinking about the past.
Incorrect: The fisherman cought a big fish yesterday.
Correct: The fisherman caught a big fish yesterday.
Caught Definitions
Past tense of "catch", meaning to have captured.
She caught the ball during the game.
To have become entangled.
My hair got caught in the zipper.
Detected or found in a particular situation.
He was caught in the rain.
To have understood or grasped something.
I caught the gist of his argument
To have contracted an illness.
I caught a cold last winter.
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
I caught the mistake before submitting the report.
He caught the early train to work.
They caught the last movie showing of the night.
She caught a glimpse of the celebrity through the crowd.
He caught his sleeve on the door handle.
She caught her breath after the long run.
The photographer caught the perfect sunset on camera.
The detective caught the thief in the act.
They caught the virus during their vacation.
The child caught the chickenpox from his schoolmate.
She caught the bouquet at the wedding.
He caught the error in the calculation.
She caught the irony in his statement.
He caught the express bus just in time.
The cat caught a mouse in the garden.
He caught the ball just before it hit the ground.
The teacher caught the student cheating during the exam.
The family caught the ferry to the island.
They caught up over coffee after years apart.
The spy caught on to the tail following him.
She caught the flu during the winter.
The firefighter caught the child thrown from the burning building.
He caught a rare bird sighting through his binoculars.
The fisherman caught a large salmon in the river.
The team caught a break when their opponent missed the goal.
Caught Idioms & Phrases
Caught red-handed
Caught in the middle of doing something wrong.
The kids were caught red-handed stealing cookies from the kitchen.
Caught in the act
Discovered doing something, usually something wrong or illegal.
The burglar was caught in the act by the security cameras.
Caught up in the moment
So involved in what is happening that you do not notice anything else.
They were so caught up in the moment, they didn't see the time pass.
Caught my eye
Attracted my attention.
The bright colors of the painting caught my eye.
Caught a break
Received an unexpected opportunity or advantage.
We caught a break when the rain stopped just as the event started.
Caught off guard
Surprised; not prepared for something.
The sudden question from the audience caught the speaker off guard.
Caught on the hop
Taken by surprise and unprepared.
The sudden inspection caught the staff on the hop.
Caught short
Found in a situation where you do not have something you need.
He was caught short without an umbrella in the sudden downpour.
Caught between two stools
Unable to choose between two alternatives.
He was caught between two stools, trying to decide between two great job offers.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of caught?
"Caught" is pronounced as /kɔːt/.
Which vowel is used before caught?
The article "a" can be used before "caught," as in "a caught ball."
What is the verb form of caught?
"Caught" is the past tense and past participle of "catch."
Which conjunction is used with caught?
Any conjunction can be used based on the context of the sentence.
What is the root word of caught?
The root word is "catch."
Why is it called caught?
It's the past tense and past participle of the verb "catch."
What is the singular form of caught?
"Caught" does not have a singular or plural form as it is a verb form.
What is the plural form of caught?
Verbs do not have plural forms in English.
Which preposition is used with caught?
"By" can be used, as in "caught by the police."
Is caught a noun or adjective?
"Caught" is primarily a verb but can act as an adjective in some contexts, e.g., "a caught fish."
Is caught an abstract noun?
No, it's not an abstract noun.
Which article is used with caught?
Articles like "a" or "the" can be used depending on the context.
Is caught an adverb?
No, "caught" is not an adverb.
Is caught a negative or positive word?
Neutral; the connotation depends on context.
Is the caught term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically, e.g., "caught in a web of lies."
Is caught a vowel or consonant?
"Caught" is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
Is the word caught imperative?
No, it's not in the imperative form.
What is the second form of caught?
Caught.
How do we divide caught into syllables?
It's one syllable, so it isn't divided.
What is a stressed syllable in caught?
The entire word, since it's only one syllable.
What is another term for caught?
Seized or captured.
What is the opposite of caught?
Released.
Is caught a countable noun?
"Caught" is not primarily a noun; it's a verb form.
Is caught a collective noun?
No, "caught" is not a collective noun.
Which determiner is used with caught?
Determiners like "this," "that," or "the" can be used, e.g., "this caught moment."
What is the first form of caught?
Catch.
What is the third form of caught?
Caught.
How many syllables are in caught?
"Caught" has one syllable.
What part of speech is caught?
"Caught" is a verb.
How is caught used in a sentence?
"She caught the ball effortlessly."
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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.
