Apprehended
/ˌæprɪˈhɛndɪd/
verbIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
To seize or arrest (a person). To understand or grasp mentally.
/ˌæprɪˈhɛndɪd/
verbneutralIntermediate
General
To understand or grasp mentally.
The police apprehended the suspect.
💡 Simply: To catch or understand.
More Examples
2
I apprehended the danger immediately.
How It's Used
Literary
"He apprehended the nuances of the poem."
2
To seize or arrest (a person).
/ˌæprɪˈhɛndɪd/
verbneutralBeginner
General
To arrest (someone).
The police apprehended the burglar.
💡 Simply: To catch someone.
More Examples
2
He was apprehended at the airport.
How It's Used
Law Enforcement
"The police apprehended the thief red-handed."
Tip:Think of 'apprehend' as 'apprehend the criminal'.
From Middle English *apprehenden*, from Old French *appréhender*, from Latin *apprehendere*, from *ad-* + *prehendere* "to seize, grasp".
Historically, 'apprehend' was used more frequently in the sense of 'understand' than 'arrest'.
Memory tip
Think of 'prehending' as seizing or grasping, and 'ap-' as adding to the action.
Practice
Base: apprehend
aprehendedapprehendidaprehended
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written