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.
Synonyms
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
Lisa Findley was apprehended on Aug. 16, the 47th anniversary of Elvis' death.
—
Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
He had been apprehended while attempting to flee to Dubai using a forged Costa Rican passport, a move that also landed him a prison sentence in Montenegro for document fraud.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Off the southern coast of Myanmar, the boat was eventually apprehended by the Myanmar Navy.
—Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Law enforcement from the Port of Seattle later apprehended the stowaway, using video surveillance to locate the subject in a terminal restroom after deplaning.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apprehend 
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Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
He had been apprehended while attempting to flee to Dubai using a forged Costa Rican passport, a move that also landed him a prison sentence in Montenegro for document fraud.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Off the southern coast of Myanmar, the boat was eventually apprehended by the Myanmar Navy.
—Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
Law enforcement from the Port of Seattle later apprehended the stowaway, using video surveillance to locate the subject in a terminal restroom after deplaning.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apprehend
Dictionary Entries Near apprehend
Cite this Entry
“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehend. Accessed 9 Jan. 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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