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
He is accused of storming a security checkpoint at the dinner last month, leading to multiple shots being fired before he was apprehended.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 11 May 2026
Last week, Interpol Washington received information that Gilley had been apprehended and placed in immigration custody upon landing at Milan Malpensa Airport on an Air Canada flight.
—Michele Novaga, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Three of the four occupants were apprehended.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
In the video shared exclusively with Fox News by ICE, officers are seen apprehending and arresting the Honduran national.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Danamarie McNicholl, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Ted Johnson, Deadline, 11 May 2026
Last week, Interpol Washington received information that Gilley had been apprehended and placed in immigration custody upon landing at Milan Malpensa Airport on an Air Canada flight.
—Michele Novaga, NBC news, 11 May 2026
Three of the four occupants were apprehended.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2026
In the video shared exclusively with Fox News by ICE, officers are seen apprehending and arresting the Honduran national.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Danamarie McNicholl, FOXNews.com, 9 May 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 15 May. 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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