Apprehensive: meaning, definitions and examples

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apprehensive

 

[ ˌæprɪˈhɛnsɪv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling of anxiety or fear

Feeling or showing fear or anxiety about the future; uneasy or worried about what may happen. Apprehensive is often used to describe a feeling of nervousness or concern about something that is about to happen.

Synonyms

anxious, nervous, worried

Examples of usage

  • I'm apprehensive about the upcoming exam.
  • She was apprehensive about meeting his parents for the first time.
  • He felt apprehensive about the job interview.
Context #2 | Adjective

understanding or quick to learn

Perceptive or quick to understand. Apprehensive in this context refers to someone who is able to grasp or comprehend things easily.

Synonyms

astute, perceptive, quick-witted

Examples of usage

  • She is very apprehensive and picks up new concepts quickly.
  • The student was apprehensive and excelled in the subject.

Translations

Translations of the word "apprehensive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 apreensivo

🇮🇳 चिंतित

🇩🇪 besorgt

🇮🇩 cemas

🇺🇦 тривожний

🇵🇱 niespokojny

🇯🇵 心配している

🇫🇷 appréhensif

🇪🇸 aprensivo

🇹🇷 endişeli

🇰🇷 걱정하는

🇸🇦 قلق

🇨🇿 znepokojený

🇸🇰 znepokojený

🇨🇳 担心的

🇸🇮 zaskrbljen

🇮🇸 kvíðinn

🇰🇿 алаңдаушылық

🇬🇪 აღელვებული

🇦🇿 narahat

🇲🇽 aprensivo

Etymology

The word 'apprehensive' originated from the Latin word 'apprehendere', which means 'to seize'. Over time, its meaning evolved to include the sense of 'to understand or grasp mentally'. In the 17th century, it took on the additional connotation of 'anxious or fearful', which is the most common usage today.

See also: apprehend, apprehended, apprehending, apprehension, misapprehend.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,217, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.