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
In July, the bishop of the Diocese of San Bernardino, Alberto Rojas, suspended Mass obligations for his parishioners who feared being apprehended by immigration authorities after two arrests on parish property.
—
Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
Aided by other adult women who pose as underage girls online to collect information on potential abusers, Roo and her team work alongside law enforcement to apprehend the worst offenders among us.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle complimented his deputies and detectives for their work to apprehend Espinoza and assured the community the department is committed to keeping families safe.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Multiple agencies worked to find and arrest Nick, 32, who was apprehended near the University of Southern California hours after his parents' bodies were discovered.
—Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 30 Dec. 2025
Aided by other adult women who pose as underage girls online to collect information on potential abusers, Roo and her team work alongside law enforcement to apprehend the worst offenders among us.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle complimented his deputies and detectives for their work to apprehend Espinoza and assured the community the department is committed to keeping families safe.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
Multiple agencies worked to find and arrest Nick, 32, who was apprehended near the University of Southern California hours after his parents' bodies were discovered.
—Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
Cite this Entry
“Apprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprehend. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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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