apprehend

American  

[ap-ri-hend] / ˌæp rɪˈhɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to take into custody; arrest by legal warrant or authority.

   The police apprehended the burglars.

2. to grasp the meaning of; understand, especially intuitively; perceive.

3. to expect with anxiety, suspicion, or fear; anticipate.

   apprehending violence.

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verb (used without object)

1. to understand.

2. to be apprehensive, suspicious, or fearful; fear.

apprehend British  

/ ˌæprɪˈhɛnd /

verb

1. (tr) to arrest and escort into custody; seize

2. to perceive or grasp mentally; understand

3. (tr) to await with fear or anxiety; dread

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Other Word Forms

• apprehender noun
• reapprehend verb
• unapprehended adjective
• unapprehending adjective

Etymology

Origin of apprehend

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English apprehenden, from Latin apprehendere “to grasp,” from ap- ap- ¹ + prehendere “to seize” (from pre-, prae- pre- + -hendere “to grasp”)

Example Sentences

Omar’s security detail and the Minneapolis Police Department immediately apprehended the individual, who rose from the audience and sprayed a liquid at the lawmaker.

From The Wall Street Journal

A swarm of police officers apprehended Langston on Thursday at his mother’s residence in Helena, Mont., after he failed to appear as a witness in a Los Angeles County criminal proceeding.

From Los Angeles Times

But data from the Deportation Data Project suggests several thousand children and teens were apprehended by ICE last year.

From The Wall Street Journal

You could say that the arrest was illegal, and you go back to square one, but at the same time you’ve apprehended the person.

From Salon

“For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias,” the DHS said in a statement.

From Salon

Related Words

• bust
• capture
• seize