apprehension

American  

[ap-ri-hen-shuhn] / ˌæp rɪˈhɛn ʃən /

noun

1. anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.

   Synonyms:

   suspicion, uneasiness, worry, alarm

   Antonyms:

   tranquility, composure

2. the faculty or act of apprehending or understanding; perception on a direct and immediate level.

3. acceptance of or receptivity to information without passing judgment on its validity, often without complete comprehension.

4. a view, opinion, or idea on any subject.

5. the act of arresting; seizure.

   Police apprehension of the burglar was aided by two alert teenagers.

   Synonyms:

   capture

   Antonyms:

   release

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apprehension British  

/ ˌæprɪˈhɛnʃən /

noun

1. fear or anxiety over what may happen

2. the act of capturing or arresting

3. the faculty of comprehending; understanding

4. a notion or conception

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Synonym Usage

Apprehension, anxiety, misgiving imply an unsettled and uneasy state of mind. Apprehension is an active state of fear, usually of some danger or misfortune: apprehension before opening a telegram. Anxiety is a somewhat prolonged state of apprehensive worry: anxiety because of a reduced income. Misgiving implies a dubious uncertainty or suspicion, as well as uneasiness: to have misgivings about the investment.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preapprehension
  noun
• reapprehension
  noun
• overapprehension
  noun
• nonapprehension
  noun

Etymology

Origin of apprehension

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin apprehēnsiōn-, stem of apprehēnsiō, from apprehēns(us) “grasped” (past participle of apprehendere “to grasp”; see apprehend) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Apprehension is fear or anxiety about something, like the apprehension you feel about an upcoming test. Apprehension is also the capture of a criminal — that is, when the criminal is apprehended. Finally, apprehension can mean one's understanding of an idea. Get it? Given the crook's record of evading arrest, the chief had real apprehensions about being able to catch him. Eventually though, she activated the whole police force in an effort to ensure the crook's apprehension. And it paid off! They caught him red-handed. But it wasn't until he saw the video of the crime in progress that the guy apprehended just how much trouble he was in. It was that apprehension that led him to make a deal with the district attorney.

Example Sentences

Late Saturday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension asked a federal court to block Homeland Security and Justice Department officials from destroying or concealing evidence.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

“We’re in uncharted territory here,” said Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which sued the Trump administration late Saturday to keep them destroying or concealing evidence in the Pretti killing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

The announcement came a day after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the FBI had initially pledged a joint investigation, then reversed course.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

"We know that they've already determined much of the investigation," he said, adding that the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has consistently run such investigations.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

As you can reckon, I was full by now of Apprehension & everywhere in the Grass & Hollows saw Redcoats.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• alarm
• disquiet
• doubt
• dread
• foreboding
• misgiving
• mistrust
• suspicion
• trepidation
• uneasiness
• worry