verb
C2
Proficient
apprehend
ap-rih-HEHND
Apprehend (verb) means to arrest someone, especially a suspected criminal. Example: “Police apprehended the suspect near the train station.”
verb
1
To arrest someone, especially a suspected criminal.
"Police apprehended the suspect near the train station."
2
To understand or grasp something mentally.
"It took a while for the full scale of the disaster to be apprehended."
3
To anticipate something, usually with worry or fear.
"She apprehended trouble the moment she saw his face."
How to use apprehend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo catch/arrest someone, to understand something, or to fearfully expect something bad.
Common pairings
apprehend a suspect
apprehend the situation
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- apprehends
- Past tense
- apprehended
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police _____ the suspect near the train station.
Etymology
From Old French apprehender, from Latin apprehendere, "to grab hold of," from ad- + prehendere, "to seize."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for apprehend
See all rhymes for apprehend →Frequently asked questions
What does “apprehend” mean?
The word “apprehend” means to arrest someone, especially a suspected criminal. In plain terms, to catch/arrest someone, to understand something, or to fearfully expect something bad.
How do you pronounce “apprehend”?
“Apprehend” is pronounced ap-rih-HEHND (/ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “apprehend” in a sentence?
Here is “apprehend” used in a sentence: “Police apprehended the suspect near the train station.”
What part of speech is “apprehend”?
“Apprehend” is a verb.
Where does the word “apprehend” come from?
The word “apprehend” comes from Latin. From Old French apprehender, from Latin apprehendere, "to grab hold of," from ad- + prehendere, "to seize.".
How many meanings does “apprehend” have?
“Apprehend” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to arrest someone, especially a suspected criminal.
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