arrest

[ uh-rest ]

/ əˈrɛst /

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See synonyms for: arrest / arrested / arresting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to seize (a person) by legal authority or warrant; take into custody: The police arrested the burglar.

to catch and hold; attract and fix; engage: The loud noise arrested our attention.

to check the course of; stop; slow down: to arrest progress.

Medicine/Medical. to control or stop the active progress of (a disease): The new drug did not arrest the cancer.

noun

the taking of a person into legal custody, as by officers of the law.

any seizure or taking by force.

an act of stopping or the state of being stopped: the arrest of tooth decay.

Machinery. any device for stopping machinery; stop.

OTHER WORDS FOR arrest

1 apprehend.

2 secure, rivet, occupy.

3 stay.

5 detention, apprehension, imprisonment.

7 stoppage, halt, stay, check.

See synonyms for arrest on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about arrest

under arrest, in custody of the police or other legal authorities: They placed the suspect under arrest at the scene of the crime.

Origin of arrest

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English aresten<Anglo-French, Middle French arester,<Vulgar Latin *arrestāre to stop (see ar-, rest²); (noun) Middle English arest(e) <Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of v.

synonym study for arrest

3. See stop.

OTHER WORDS FROM arrest

ar·rest·a·ble, adjectivear·rest·ment, nounpost·ar·rest, adjectivepre·ar·rest, verb (used with object)

pre·ar·rest·ment, nounre·ar·rest, verb (used with object), nounun·ar·rest·a·ble, adjectiveun·ar·rest·ed, adjective

Words nearby arrest

array, arrayal, arrearage, arrears, arrenotoky, arrest, arrestable, arrestant, arrestee, arrester, arresting

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT ARREST

What does arrest mean?

To arrest someone is to seize them or take them into custody with authority.

Related to that, an arrest is the act of police or other law enforcement officials detaining someone suspected of committing a crime when there is probable cause.

Arrest can also more generally mean to attract and engage, such as with attention or sight. For example, a loud clap of thunder might arrest your attention for a moment, if you weren’t expecting it.

Arrest also means to slow or stop, such as with progress or growth. You might, for example, arrest the growth of a plant by keeping it in the dark while continuing to water it. Such an arrest could lead the plant to die.

Example: You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit grand theft auto.

Where does arrest come from?

The first records of the term arrest come from around the 1200s. It comes from the Vulgar Latin arrestāre, meaning “to stop.” Often arresting someone or something is done in an effort to stop them from doing something or from running away.

In medicine, to arrest is to control or stop the progress, such as of a disease. The disease isn’t cured but it won’t get any worse if doctors can arrest it. Sometimes arrest is also used in reference to parts of the body stopping, such as cardiac arrest, which means your heart stops beating.

You might also hear about arrested development, which is development that has been stopped before it has been completed. A person with a physical arrested development is someone whose body did not fully grow, or develop, completely.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to arrest?

arrestable (adjective)
postarrest (adjective)
prearrest (verb)
rearrest (verb)
unarrestable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for arrest?

What are some words that share a root or word element with arrest?

What are some words that often get used in discussing arrest?

How is arrest used in real life?

Arrest is a common word usually used in relation to criminal justice but also used in the sciences.

*jake paul gets arrested*

jake – "the cops and I have mutually decided to arrest me, thank you to all involved!!"

— RyansAverageLife (@RyanAbe) July 23, 2017

BREAKING / NBC News: DOJ announces the arrest of Russian National Mariia Butina, age 29, for "infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation."

She was arrested yesterday.

— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) July 16, 2018

I'll try my best, how much do I invest? like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss.

— michael clifford on tour (@Michael5SOS) January 1, 2016

Try using arrest!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for arrest?

A. free
B. capture
C. secure
D. seize

How to use arrest in a sentence

He called for the arrest of Sheskey and for the others involved to lose their jobs.
Prosecutors charge teen in fatal shooting of two protestors and wounding of a third in Kenosha|kdunn6|August 28, 2020|Fortune
Let me explain in detail what people here are going through, starting with arrest.
Misery in Minsk|Eugene Robinson|August 18, 2020|Ozy
Protestors attempted to block the arrest, but they, along with bystanders, were arrested and taken into custody.
Poland’s LGBTQ activists confront growing crackdown|Kaela Roeder|August 14, 2020|Washington Blade
Between yesterday morning, when news broke of the arrest, and at market close today, the shares of Next Digital—which owns Apple Daily and other publications—soared more than 1,100%, pushing the stock to a seven-year high.
Hong Kongers drove a stock up 1,100% to protest a news mogul’s arrest|Mary Hui|August 11, 2020|Quartz

With mainstream politicians in Kashmir remaining under arrest or barred from political activity, extremist groups have little competition in recruiting local youth — even if they’re untrained and unlikely to survive for long.
Is Kashmir’s Militancy Dead?|Charu Kasturi|August 6, 2020|Ozy
Later reports say that authorities claimed to be merely escorting him back to his house arrest.
Russia’s Rebel In Chief Escapes House Arrest|Anna Nemtsova|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Moscow protest was not sanctioned, which meant every participant risked arrest.
Russia’s Rebel In Chief Escapes House Arrest|Anna Nemtsova|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was told he could go back home to his house arrest to celebrate the New Year with his wife and their two children.
Russia’s Rebel In Chief Escapes House Arrest|Anna Nemtsova|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When two NYPD lieutenants intervened, police say Linsker put the trash can down but resisted arrest.
The High-Priced Union Rep Charged With Attacking a Cop|Jacob Siegel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sullivan has by then moved in to help and he seeks to complete the arrest of the first man.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The crowd dispersed, disappointed; cheated out of their anticipated scene of an arrest for horse-stealing.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
He knew that Longcluse had still two executions against him, on which, at any moment, he might arrest him.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
He told Horner you'd bin shot resistin' arrest, an' wanted t' see her afore yuh cashed in.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
That accomplished, I shall arrest the Dowager and her son and every jackanapes within that castle.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Fresh Commissioners came from the Assembly, and it was only their fortunate recall to Paris that saved the general from arrest.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for arrest

arrest

/ (əˈrɛst) /

verb (tr)

to deprive (a person) of liberty by taking him into custody, esp under lawful authority

to seize (a ship) under lawful authority

to slow or stop the development or progress of (a disease, growth, etc)

to catch and hold (one's attention, sight, etc)

arrest judgment law to stay proceedings after a verdict, on the grounds of error or possible error

can't get arrested informal (of a performer) is unrecognized and unsuccessfulhe can't get arrested here but is a megastar in the States

noun

the act of taking a person into custody, esp under lawful authority

the act of seizing and holding a ship under lawful authority

the state of being held, esp under lawful authorityunder arrest

Also called: arrestation (ˌærɛsˈteɪʃən) the slowing or stopping of the development or progress of something

the stopping or sudden cessation of motion of somethinga cardiac arrest

Word Origin for arrest

C14: from Old French arester, from Vulgar Latin arrestāre (unattested), from Latin ad at, to + restāre to stand firm, stop

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with arrest

arrest

see under arrest.

arrest

OTHER WORDS FOR arrest

Idioms about arrest

Origin of arrest

synonym study for arrest

OTHER WORDS FROM arrest

Words nearby arrest

MORE ABOUT ARREST

What does arrest mean?

Where does arrest come from?

Did you know … ?

How is arrest used in real life?

Try using arrest!

Words related to arrest

How to use arrest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for arrest

Word Origin for arrest

Other Idioms and Phrases with arrest