apprehensive

[ ap-ri-hen-siv ]

/ ˌæp rɪˈhɛn sɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR apprehensive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

uneasy or fearful about something that might happen: apprehensive for the safety of the mountain climbers.

quick to learn or understand.

perceptive; discerning (usually followed by of).

Nearby words

appreciative, appreciatory, apprehend, apprehensible, apprehension, apprehensive, apprentice, appressed, appressorium, apprise, apprize

Origin of apprehensive

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word apprehēnsīvus. See apprehensible, -ive

Related forms

ap·pre·hen·sive·ly, adverbap·pre·hen·sive·ness, nounnon·ap·pre·hen·sive, adjectiveo·ver·ap·pre·hen·sive, adjective

o·ver·ap·pre·hen·sive·ly, adverbo·ver·ap·pre·hen·sive·ness, nounpseu·do·ap·pre·hen·sive, adjectivepseu·do·ap·pre·hen·sive·ly, adverbun·ap·pre·hen·sive, adjectiveun·ap·pre·hen·sive·ly, adverbun·ap·pre·hen·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for apprehensively

The Winnebagos started and looked at each other apprehensively.
The Camp Fire Girls Do Their Bit|Hildegard G. Frey
"They say this channel is awfully choppy," said Slim apprehensively, as they left the car.
The Brighton Boys in the Radio Service|James R. Driscoll
She raised herself a little and leant forward slightly; he started and looked at her apprehensively.
Told on the Pagoda|Mimosa
Violet glanced at the Bush apprehensively, and once more it was evident that she did not wish him to leave her.
The Greater Power|Harold Bindloss

Maia lowered her voice a little at the last word, and looked up at Rollo apprehensively.
Christmas Tree Land|Mary Louisa Molesworth

British Dictionary definitions for apprehensively

apprehensive

/ (ˌæprɪˈhɛnsɪv) /

adjective

fearful or anxious

Derived Forms

apprehensively, adverbapprehensiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012