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 of apprehend

• understand
• know
• comprehend
• recognize
• decipher
• grasp
• see
• appreciate
• discern

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 air base itself was bustling with activity after the men were apprehended. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2026

The film cuts between Murray cautiously opening the suspicious package and FBI agents apprehending Kaczynski decades later. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026

Hemingway had lacerations to his hand when he was apprehended and was taken to a hospital, police said. — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

According to news organization Agence France Presse, the duo were first apprehended by Louvre security, with local police called to the scene shortly thereafter. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for apprehend

• comprehend
• condescend
• dividend
• recommend
• resuspend
• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend

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