Apprehend: meaning, definitions and examples

👮

Add to dictionary

apprehend

[ ˌæprɪˈhɛnd ]

^{Context #1}

law enforcement

To arrest someone for a crime; to understand or perceive something.

Synonyms

arrest, capture, comprehend

Examples of usage

The suspect was apprehended by the police.
I can't apprehend the meaning of this text.

^{Context #2}

fear

To fear or be anxious about something bad happening.

Synonyms

anticipate, fear, worry

Examples of usage

She apprehended that her flight would be delayed.
He apprehended the dangers of the situation.

^{Context #3}

understand

To understand or grasp mentally.

Synonyms

comprehend, grasp, understand

Examples of usage

It took me a while to apprehend the complexity of the issue.
She quickly apprehended the concept presented to her.

Translations

Translations of the word "apprehend" in other languages:

🇵🇹 apreender

🇮🇳 गिरफ्तार करना (girafṭār karna)

🇩🇪 festnehmen

🇮🇩 menangkap

🇺🇦 захопити

🇵🇱 aresztować

🇯🇵 逮捕する (taiho suru)

🇫🇷 arrêter

🇪🇸 aprehender

🇹🇷 yakalamak

🇰🇷 체포하다 (chepo-hada)

🇸🇦 اعتقل (i'taqal)

🇨🇿 zatknout

🇸🇰 zatknúť

🇨🇳 逮捕 (dàibǔ)

🇸🇮 aretirati

🇮🇸 handtaka

🇰🇿 тұтқындау

🇬🇪 დააკავოს (daakavos)

🇦🇿 tutmaq

🇲🇽 aprehender

Word origin

The word 'apprehend' originated from the Latin word 'apprehendere', which means 'to seize'. Over time, its meaning evolved to include the idea of understanding or perceiving. In English, 'apprehend' first appeared in the 14th century with the legal sense of 'arrest'. Later, it also came to be used in a broader sense of understanding or fearing. Today, 'apprehend' continues to be used in both legal and general contexts to convey the idea of capturing, understanding, or fearing something.