apprehension

noun

ap·​pre·​hen·​sion ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-shən How to pronounce apprehension (audio)
1
: suspicion or fear especially of future evil : foreboding
an atmosphere of nervous apprehension
2
: seizure by legal process : arrest
apprehension of a criminal
3
a
: the act or power of perceiving or comprehending something
a person of dull apprehension
b
: the result of apprehending something mentally : conception
according to popular apprehension

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Latin Helps Build Apprehension

The Latin verb prehendere really grabs our attention. It means "to grasp" or "to seize," and it is an ancestor of various English words. It teamed up with the prefix ad- (which takes the form ap- before p and means "to," "toward," or "near") to form apprehendere, the Latin predecessor of our words apprehension, apprehend, and apprehensive. When prehendere joined the prefix com- ("with," "together," "jointly"), Latin got comprehendere, and English eventually got comprehend, comprehension, and comprehensive. Prehendere also gave us the words comprise, prehensile ("adapted for seizing or grasping"), prison, reprehend, and reprise, among others.

Examples of apprehension in a Sentence

The thought of moving to a new city fills me with apprehension. an increased number of apprehensions
Recent Examples on the Web That figure is based on budget allocations for each step of the deportation process: the apprehension of an undocumented immigrant living in the U.S., detention, the immigration court process and transport out of the country. Julia Ingram, CBS News, 17 Oct. 2024 Minutes released on Wednesday from that meeting show more apprehension among officials than initially believed. Courtenay Brown, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024 Spouses may not see one another for a while… and there is that apprehension. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 7 Oct. 2024 The information would lead to the safe recovery of the child and/or apprehension of the suspect. Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for apprehension 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apprehension.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin apprehension-, apprehensio, from Latin apprehendere — see apprehend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Time Traveler
The first known use of apprehension was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near apprehension

Cite this Entry

“Apprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehension. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

apprehension

noun
ap·​pre·​hen·​sion ˌap-ri-ˈhen-chən How to pronounce apprehension (audio)
1
2
: an understanding of something
3
: fear of or uncertainty about what may be coming

Legal Definition

apprehension

noun
ap·​pre·​hen·​sion ˌa-pri-ˈhen-chən How to pronounce apprehension (audio)
: arrest

More from Merriam-Webster on apprehension

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