apprehend

verb

ˌa-pri-ˈhend How to pronounce apprehend (audio)
Definition of apprehendnext
1
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of do you apprehend the importance of this discovery?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to arrest
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law the agency charged with apprehending criminals who have violated federal law

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of apprehend The Esquire piece covers a Texas district attorney named Bill Conradt, who died by suicide in 2006 when Hansen and Dateline’s cameras, as well as law enforcement, attempted to apprehend him at his home as part of an operation covered by the program. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 Isaiah Williams Broward Corrections Williams allegedly fled with the victim's gun before being apprehended by Miramar police. — Anna McAllister, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 Police said Chevere was apprehended after going the wrong way on the westbound side of Barnes Highway. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 Nailing Ramirez’s look was especially important to his preparation for the role because of how the Night Stalker was eventually apprehended. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprehend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apprehend
  1. understand
  2. arrest
  3. know
  4. seize
  5. comprehend
  6. detain
  7. recognize
  8. restrain
Verb
  • By studying who farts more, who farts less and how flatulence changes with diet, researchers aim to understand how microbes respond to different foods and why some people can tolerate high-fiber diets comfortably while others struggle with gas.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Scientists have long sought to understand the link between climate change and El Niño.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • In November 2023, Donna was arrested in connection with Markel’s death, just days after Charlie was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and solicitation of first-degree murder.
    — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Compare this with a similarly arresting later sequence, set deep within a magnificently mossy forest, where a band of hunters, led by Sung-ki (Zo In-sung, full of rascally charisma), do battle with Va’migere’s alien friends.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of arrest
Verb
  • The death came as the festival endured another year with weather woes, including rain on Friday that temporarily closed a main gate to festival grounds known as Black Rock City.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
  • As the commission moved toward a vote on the plan, there was a certain resignation among the ballroom skeptics, who knew that they were outnumbered.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • But the truth of it is that Sharaa forced his hand by seizing swathes of the SDF’s territory in a lightning offensive in January.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Who knows more of the injustice of the world than the girl who saw her town seized by a white-supremacist coup, the Wilmington massacre, in 1898?
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Burns knows his children won't fully comprehend what their dad has accomplished for quite some time.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • These relative trillions, of course, are hard for the human brain to comprehend.
    — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of comprehend
Verb
  • The driver, identified by police as 25-year-old Griffin Charles Foy, is seen outside the truck with his hands raised as officers move in to detain him.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Three-sport Florida high school athlete and his family detained by ICE.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of detain
Verb
  • Miles This name is another way to recognize Miles Austin (or the number of miles players run to prepare for the season when no one is watching).
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The result can be a company that AI fails to recognize, recognizes incorrectly or resolves in favor of a competitor.
    — Joseph Byrum, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of recognize
Verb
  • Appropriately so, given the placid recent range and the clockwork mechanics of sector rotation and low-correlation restraining index-level volatility.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This was the context for Justice Brewer’s remarks about Philip sober restraining Philip drunk.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of restrain

Browse Nearby Words

appreciatory
apprehend
apprehended
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apprehend. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All