arrest

verb

ar·​rest ə-ˈrest 

arrested; arresting; arrests

transitive verb

1

: seize, capture

specifically : to take or keep in custody by authority of law

Police arrested the suspect.

2

a

: to bring to a stop

Sickness arrested his activities.

b

: check, slow

Its growth was arrested.

c

: to make inactive

an arrested tumor

3

: to catch suddenly and engagingly

arrest attention

arrester noun

or less commonly arrestor

ə-ˈre-stər 

arrestment

ə-ˈres(t)-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of arrest

• seize
• apprehend
• restrain
• jail
• detain
• grab

Examples of arrest in a Sentence

The police arrested him on drug charges.

The police officer said, “I'm arresting you in the name of the law.”

The drugs can't arrest the disease's progress, but they can slow it down considerably.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nine people, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, were initially arrested with 30 more later indicted on federal charges in connection with the incident. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Dove was arrested in May and was released from jail on his own recognizance until his trial in July. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Witnesses told police where Taylor had fled to and police arrested him a short distance away, authorities added. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

The new strategy comes a day after 21 people were arrested at a watch party that became violent and destructive, according to a law enforcement official. —Mark Morales, CNN Money, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aresten, arresten "to stop, halt (something or someone), come to a halt, wait, restrain, seize (a lawbreaker), take into custody," borrowed from Anglo-French arester (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *arrestāre, from Latin ad- ad- (in Vulgar Latin marking or reinforcing transitivity) + restāre "to remain, be left unchanged" — more at rest entry 4

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing arrest

• cardiac arrest
• citizen's arrest
• evade capture/arrest
• false arrest
• house arrest
• respiratory arrest
• under arrest

Rhymes for arrest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed
• celeste

Kids Definition

arrest

1 of 2 verb

ar·​rest ə-ˈrest 

1

a

: to stop the progress or movement of

b

: check entry 2 sense 3, slow

arrest a disease

2

: to take or keep in one's control by authority of law

arrest someone on suspicion of robbery

3

: to attract and hold the attention of

colors that arrest the eye

arrest

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of stopping

b

: the state of being stopped

2

: the act of taking or holding in one's control by authority of law

Medical Definition

arrest

1 of 2 transitive verb

ar·​rest ə-ˈrest 

: to bring to a standstill or state of inactivity

arrested tuberculosis

arrested labor

intransitive verb

: to undergo cardiac arrest

the … patient has arrested while being transported to surgery

—Wayne Fields

arrestment noun

arrest

2 of 2 noun

: the condition of being stopped

developmental arrest

see cardiac arrest compare cure entry 1 sense 1, remission

Legal Definition

arrest

1 of 2 noun

ar·​rest

ə-ˈrest

: the restraining and seizure of a person whether or not by physical force by someone acting under authority (as a police officer) in connection with a crime in such a manner that it is reasonable under the circumstances for the person to believe that he or she is not free to leave see also miranda warnings, probable cause at cause sense 2, warrant compare stop

— citizen's arrest

: an arrest made not by a law officer but by any citizen who derives the authority to arrest from the fact of being a citizen

Note: Under common law, a citizen may make an arrest for any felony actually committed, or for a breach of the peace committed in his or her presence.

— civil arrest

: the arrest and detention of a defendant in a civil suit until he or she posts bail or pays the judgment see also capias ad respondendum

Note: Civil arrest is restricted or prohibited in most states.

— custodial arrest

: an arrest of a person accompanied by or followed by taking the person into custody

— false arrest

: an arrest made without legal authority

called also unlawful arrest

Note: If a person is taken into custody, no matter how briefly, a false arrest is also false imprisonment.

— pretext arrest \ ˈprē-​ˌtekst-​ \

: the arrest of a person for a minor crime (as a traffic violation) for the real purpose of getting an opportunity to investigate (as through a search) the person's possible involvement in a more serious crime for which there are no lawful grounds to make an arrest

called also pretextual arrest

— unlawful arrest

: false arrest in this entry

arrest

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to place under arrest

arrester noun

also arrestor

Etymology

Middle French arest, from arester to stop, seize, arrest, ultimately from Latin ad to, at + restare to stay