apprehend

verb

ap·​pre·​hend ˌa-pri-ˈhend 

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

intransitive verb

: understand, grasp

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

• appreciate
• assimilate
• behold
• catch
• catch on (to)
• cognize
• compass
• comprehend
• conceive
• cotton (to or on to)
• decipher
• decode
• dig
• discern
• get
• grasp
• grok
• intuit
• know
• make
• make out
• perceive
• recognize
• register
• savvy
• see
• seize
• sense
• tumble (to)
• twig
• understand

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

The investigation is ongoing and police ask the public to avoid attempting to contact or apprehending the suspect. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024

The deputy who apprehended Soto was struck multiple times and stabbed in one of his hands. —Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024

He was apprehended and provided with medical care after he was hit by gunfire, according to prosecutors. —Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024

These are migrants who are actively trying to evade law enforcement and who are captured on cameras or sensors but are not apprehended for different reasons. —CBS News, 24 Mar. 2024

Investigators apprehended the suspect, who was known to the victim, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. —Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024

And so far this fiscal year, since October, 140,000 people have essentially snuck into the country without being apprehended by border patrol along the U.S./Mexico border. —CBS News, 24 Mar. 2024

Law enforcement agencies worked together to apprehend the suspects, and one was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison after being tried in federal court. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024

He was finally apprehended about a quarter mile from the stabbing, court documents mention. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024

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

Kids 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

3

: understand sense 1a

Legal Definition

apprehend

transitive verb

ap·​pre·​hend ˌa-prə-ˈhend 

: arrest

Etymology

Latin apprehendere to seize, arrest, from ad to + prehendere to seize