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
While our immigration enforcement should be focused on apprehending and prosecuting violent criminals to make our communities safer, these ICE actions are doing the opposite and making our state less safe.
—
Wcco Staff, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
At least five have been detained in recent months, according to CNN, with some believed to be apprehended as bargaining chips for the Maduro government.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Officers noted that the suspects resisted arrest when apprehended.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Trump’s decision to send forces into Venezuela to apprehend Maduro fits within the pattern of presidents undertaking short-term military actions without prior congressional authorization required in the War Powers Resolution.
—Paul Vallas, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Wcco Staff, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
At least five have been detained in recent months, according to CNN, with some believed to be apprehended as bargaining chips for the Maduro government.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Officers noted that the suspects resisted arrest when apprehended.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Trump’s decision to send forces into Venezuela to apprehend Maduro fits within the pattern of presidents undertaking short-term military actions without prior congressional authorization required in the War Powers Resolution.
—Paul Vallas, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
Cite this Entry
“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehend. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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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