Apprehensive: meaning, definitions and examples

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apprehensive

[ หŒรฆprษชหˆhษ›nsษชv ]

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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
apprehensive

Used when someone feels uneasy about something in the future, typically because they are unsure about the outcome.

  • She was apprehensive about starting her new job
  • Despite his excitement, he felt apprehensive about the exam results
anxious

Describes a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. It often has a more intense and sometimes clinical connotation.

  • She felt anxious before her dentist appointment
  • He has been anxious about his health for weeks
worried

Used when someone is troubled or concerned about something. It can apply to both immediate and long-term concerns.

  • He's worried about his son's grades in school
  • She was worried that they might miss the flight
nervous

Refers to a temporary feeling of unease or jitters, often related to immediate situations like public speaking or performance.

  • She was nervous before her big presentation
  • He felt nervous waiting for his turn to speak

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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
apprehensive

Similar to the previous entry, it is used to describe someone who is worried or uneasy about something.

  • Despite the calm weather, she remained apprehensive about the potential storm
  • Students are often apprehensive before final exams
perceptive

This term fits when referring to someone who is very good at noticing things quickly and understanding them accurately.

  • His perceptive nature allows him to read peopleโ€™s emotions easily
  • The detective was very perceptive, noticing even the smallest clues
quick-witted

Best used to describe someone who is able to think quickly and make smart remarks or decisions promptly.

  • Her quick-witted retort left everyone in the room speechless
  • The comedianโ€™s quick-witted humor kept the audience laughing all night
astute

Used to describe someone who is very clever and has good judgment, typically when it comes to understanding complicated situations or making decisions.

  • Her astute observations during the meeting helped steer the project in the right direction
  • Astute investors can predict market trends accurately

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น apreensivo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคšเคฟเค‚เคคเคฟเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช besorgt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ cemas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั‚ั€ะธะฒะพะถะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ niespokojny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅฟƒ้…ใ—ใฆใ„ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท apprรฉhensif

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ aprensivo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท endiลŸeli

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฑฑ์ •ํ•˜๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ู„ู‚

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ znepokojenรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ znepokojenรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‹…ๅฟƒ็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zaskrbljen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ kvรญรฐinn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะปะฐาฃะดะฐัƒัˆั‹ะปั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒฆแƒ”แƒšแƒ•แƒ”แƒ‘แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ narahat

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ 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.