apprehension
noun
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Latin Helps Build Apprehension
There’s quite a bit to comprehend about apprehension, so let’s take a closer look at its history. The Latin ancestor of apprehension (and of comprehend, prehensile, and even prison, among others) is the verb prehendere, meaning “to grasp” or “to seize.” When it was first used in the 14th century, apprehension could refer to the act of learning, a sense that is now obsolete, or the ability or power to understand things—learning and understanding both being ways to “grasp” knowledge or information. It wasn’t until the late 16th century that apprehension was used, as it still is today, for the physical seizure of something or someone (as an arrest). The most commonly used sense of apprehension today refers to a feeling that something bad is about to happen, when you seize up, perhaps, with anxiety or dread, having grasped all the unpleasant possibilities.
Examples of apprehension in a Sentence
Lori Huss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Shalamar Samuels Shalamar Samuel’s decision to cut her hair was a mix of excitement and apprehension.
—Celeste Polanco, Essence, 1 Apr. 2025
In Tucson, Arizona, yesterday, there were 59 apprehensions compared to 1,222 on the same day last year under Biden, a 95% reduction, while San Diego saw 36 apprehensions on Thursday compared to 908 on the same day in 2024, a 96% decrease.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adding to neighbors’ apprehension is a seven-story, 126-unit Builder’s Remedy project proposed across the street at 940 Willow St. that locals have petitioned to stop over concerns about parking shortages, antiquated infrastructure and safety issues.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehension
Cite this Entry
“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehension. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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apprehension
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