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
The killer managed to exit the building and flee the scene without being apprehended, and officials have been unsuccessful in finding video footage showing the face of the person.
—
Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The person, local WJAR-TV reported, was apprehended at the Hampton Inn there.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
The person was apprehended at a hotel in Coventry but wasn’t immediately identified.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Testimony has centered around what transpired at the Altoona McDonald's where Mangione was apprehended five days after the shooting.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025
The person, local WJAR-TV reported, was apprehended at the Hampton Inn there.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 Dec. 2025
The person was apprehended at a hotel in Coventry but wasn’t immediately identified.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Testimony has centered around what transpired at the Altoona McDonald's where Mangione was apprehended five days after the shooting.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 Dec. 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 Dec. 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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