apprehend

verb

ap·​pre·​hend ˌa-pri-ˈhend How to pronounce apprehend (audio)
apprehended; apprehending; apprehends

transitive verb

1
: arrest, seize
apprehend a thief
2
a
: to become aware of : perceive
She immediately apprehended the problem.
b
: to anticipate especially with anxiety, dread, or fear
3
: to grasp with the understanding : recognize the meaning of

Did you know?

To apprehend is to seize, either physically or mentally. So to apprehend a thief is to nab him. But to apprehend a confusing news story, or to apprehend a difficult concept in physics, is to understand it—that is, to "grasp" it mentally. If you're apprehensive about something that's about to happen, it means you've grasped all the unpleasant possibilities and are waiting with anxiety or dread.

Examples of apprehend in a Sentence

Within hours, police had apprehended the thief. subtle differences that are difficult to apprehend
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He was apprehended without incident at a home in Philadelphia. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025 The suspect was apprehended shortly after this incident. John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025 Of those arrested, 30 were apprehended in the Eaton fire zone and four in the Palisades fire zone, Luna said. Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025 Officers also found another pistol in a backyard near where one of the suspects was apprehended. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for apprehend 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin apprehendere, literally, to seize, from ad- + prehendere to seize — more at get

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apprehend was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near apprehend

Cite this Entry

“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehend. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

apprehend

verb
ap·​pre·​hend ˌap-ri-ˈhend How to pronounce apprehend (audio)
1
: arrest entry 1 sense 2
apprehend a burglar
2
: to look forward to with fear and uncertainty
3

Legal Definition

apprehend

transitive verb
ap·​pre·​hend ˌa-prə-ˈhend How to pronounce apprehend (audio)
: arrest
Etymology

Latin apprehendere to seize, arrest, from ad to + prehendere to seize

More from Merriam-Webster on apprehend

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