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 San Diego officers apprehended a suspect in about 70 percent of pursuits between 2018 and 2021, data show. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 The suspect was apprehended walking several blocks near the home without incident Saturday evening, Wilson said. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 16 Mar. 2024 Sherman wasn’t arrested during that interview and police could not locate him for several weeks after, though he was eventually apprehended in Dayton, Ohio. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 There are two types of migrants crossing into the Tucson sector illegally: those surrendering themselves to Border Patrol agents, sometimes with the intention of seeking U.S. asylum, and those hoping to enter the country surreptitiously, without being apprehended. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024 Nowadays, once asylum seekers either are apprehended or turn themselves in to Border Patrol, they are processed into the immigration system, and, if released, brought to Annunciation House’s network of shelters, where they are fed, housed, and provided assistance to travel onward. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2024 An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a series of deadly drive-by shootings this month, joining two suspects who were apprehended within hours of the killings, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Authorities were not immediately able to apprehend Hamlin and initially circulated his photo, asking for the public’s assistance, per the NYPD statement. Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Isaacs had avoided arrest for nine months when he was apprehended in January 2020 by U.S. Marshals in Houston. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apprehend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 28 Mar. 2024.

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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