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
Community arrests, by contrast, include everything from workplace raids to teams trailing and apprehending immigrants.
—
Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
On Thursday, July 31, the Federal Highway Police apprehended the suspect after the animals were discovered on an interstate bus, which was traveling from Natal to Rio de Janeiro, per the Associated Press.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The man also worked with Deputy Sheriff’s Patrick Thomas Rohrer and Theresa Sue King, who were fatally shot while transporting an inmate in 2018; Capt. Robert Melton, who was fatally shot while attempting to apprehend a suspect in a drive-by shooting in 2016; and Det.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2025
Police apprehended the suspect at Arlanda Airport around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday while conducting a check of the departing plane, according to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
On Thursday, July 31, the Federal Highway Police apprehended the suspect after the animals were discovered on an interstate bus, which was traveling from Natal to Rio de Janeiro, per the Associated Press.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
The man also worked with Deputy Sheriff’s Patrick Thomas Rohrer and Theresa Sue King, who were fatally shot while transporting an inmate in 2018; Capt. Robert Melton, who was fatally shot while attempting to apprehend a suspect in a drive-by shooting in 2016; and Det.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2025
Police apprehended the suspect at Arlanda Airport around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday while conducting a check of the departing plane, according to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 23 July 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 20 Aug. 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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