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
Anyone who’s seen enough adaptations knows the difference between one that strives to apprehend the source material and one that feels derived from a Wikipedia summary.
—
Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Omeed Assefi, the acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division, said that the indictment was secured in 2025 in the Northern District of California, but remained under seal until one of the defendants — Vick Nam Hing Ma — was apprehended and detained in France in April.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Ten days later, authorities found and apprehended Downs at Seifer's house.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Two people were apprehended by police.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for apprehend
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Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Omeed Assefi, the acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division, said that the indictment was secured in 2025 in the Northern District of California, but remained under seal until one of the defendants — Vick Nam Hing Ma — was apprehended and detained in France in April.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Ten days later, authorities found and apprehended Downs at Seifer's house.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Two people were apprehended by police.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 18 May 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 21 May. 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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