apprehend
verb
ap·pre·hend
ˌa-pri-ˈhend 
apprehended; apprehending; apprehends
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
Zoom in: The motion focuses on 22 people apprehended in the Midwest since Trump took office.
—
Monica Eng, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
Such actions can be more effective in apprehending criminal suspects then notifying, waiting for, and hoping for a timely response from the police.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2025
Kyle Thurman was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and Baton Rouge Police on Monday night, while Isaiah Smith turned himself in on Tuesday, according to WDSU.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
Martinez Mendoza fled on foot and was apprehended about 10 minutes later, the release said.
—Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Monica Eng, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
Such actions can be more effective in apprehending criminal suspects then notifying, waiting for, and hoping for a timely response from the police.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 14 Mar. 2025
Kyle Thurman was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and Baton Rouge Police on Monday night, while Isaiah Smith turned himself in on Tuesday, according to WDSU.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
Martinez Mendoza fled on foot and was apprehended about 10 minutes later, the release said.
—Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
Cite this Entry
“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehend. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
apprehend
verb
ap·pre·hend
ˌap-ri-ˈhend
1
: arrest entry 1 sense 2
apprehend a burglar
2
: to look forward to with fear and uncertainty
Legal Definition
apprehend
transitive verb
ap·pre·hend
ˌa-prə-ˈhend
: arrest
Etymology
Latin apprehendere to seize, arrest, from ad to + prehendere to seize
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