arrest

[ uh-rest ]

/ əˈrɛst /

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arrest 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.

RELATED WORDS

seized

Nearby words

arrear, arrearage, arrears, arrector, arrenotoky, arrest, arrest of judgment, arrestable, arrestant, arrested, arrestee

Idioms

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.

SYNONYMS FOR arrest

1 apprehend.

2 secure, rivet, occupy.

3 stay.

5 detention, apprehension, imprisonment.

7 stoppage, halt, stay, check.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arrest ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Synonym study

3. See stop.

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

Examples from the Web for arrested

Asia Bibi, as she is known, was arrested and sentenced to death.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Chérif was arrested in Paris in January 2005 as he was about to board a plane to Damascus along with a man named Thamer Bouchnak.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When the man threatened to report him for harassment to the NOPD, Farrell arrested him.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Frias—who was arrested in 2013 for interfering with public duties and public intoxication—was not carrying a gun at the time.
Texas Gun Slingers Police the Police—With a Black Panthers Tactic|Brandy Zadrozny|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Antoine himself had recently been arrested on a six-year-old warrant for a dime bag of weed.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The arrival of General Washington arrested the disorder, and determined the victory on our side.
Memoirs, Correspondence and Manuscripts of General Lafayette|Lafayette
While at table Tone was recognized by an old school friend, and was at once arrested and sent prisoner to Dublin.
The Story Of Ireland|Emily Lawless
It began to happen quite frequently after he was arrested there in connection with some demonstration and handing out of leaflets.
Warren Commission (1 of 26): Hearings Vol. I (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
I don't want to be arrested, even if I am innocent, and I certainly don't want the airship to fall into the hands of the police.
Tom Swift and his Airship|Victor Appleton
When the three had been arrested she was separated from the other two and sent to Dourdan.
Women of Medival France|Pierce Butler

British Dictionary definitions for arrested

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

Word Origin and History for arrested (1 of 3)

arrested

adj.

1610s, past participle adjective from arrest (v.). Arrested development is first recorded 1859 in evolutionary biology.

Word Origin and History for arrested (1 of 3)

arrest

"to cause to stop," also "to detain legally," late 14c., from Old French arester "to stay, stop" (Modern French arrêter), from Vulgar Latin *arrestare (source of Italian arrestare, Spanish and Portuguese arrestar), from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + restare "to stop, remain behind, stay back" (see rest (n.2)). Figurative sense of "to catch and hold" (the attention, etc.) is from 1814.

Word Origin and History for arrested (2 of 3)

arrest

late 14c., from Anglo-French arest, Old French areste, from arester (see arrest (v.)).

Medicine definitions for arrested

arrest

[ ə-rĕst′ ]

v.

To stop; check.

To undergo cardiac arrest.

n.

An interference with or a checking of the regular course of a disease or symptom, a stoppage.

Interference with the performance of a function.

The inhibition of a developmental process, usually the ultimate stage of development.

Idioms and Phrases with arrested

arrest

see under arrest.

arrest

verb (used with object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of arrest

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for arrested

British Dictionary definitions for arrested

arrest

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for arrest

Word Origin and History for arrested (1 of 3)

arrested

Word Origin and History for arrested (1 of 3)

arrest

Word Origin and History for arrested (2 of 3)

arrest

Medicine definitions for arrested

arrest

v.

n.

Idioms and Phrases with arrested

arrest