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
Williams was apprehended by police a few days later.
—
Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
In January, Yemen’s Interior Ministry re-upped a request to its Emirati counterpart to apprehend Al-Maqtari and his associates.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Police were then able to successfully apprehend all three suspects, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
In the case before the 8th Circuit, Joaquin Herrera Avila of Mexico was apprehended in Minneapolis in August 2025 for lacking legal documents authorizing his admission into the United States.
—Audrey McAvoy The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
In January, Yemen’s Interior Ministry re-upped a request to its Emirati counterpart to apprehend Al-Maqtari and his associates.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Police were then able to successfully apprehend all three suspects, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
In the case before the 8th Circuit, Joaquin Herrera Avila of Mexico was apprehended in Minneapolis in August 2025 for lacking legal documents authorizing his admission into the United States.
—Audrey McAvoy The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 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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