Skip to learning

YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

apprehend

Verb

IPA /ˌæprɪˈhend/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To catch and arrest someone suspected of a crime.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

apprehend/ˌæprɪˈhend/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea
  1. Police search for a suspect

  2. The suspect is caught and arrested

To apprehend a suspect is to catch and arrest them.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

  1. In the film, the detective apprehends the thief at the station.
  2. The students examined how the police apprehended the suspect.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Which word from this lesson matches this meaning?

To catch and arrest someone suspected of a crime.
Show the answer

apprehend — To catch and arrest someone suspected of a crime.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “apprehend” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To catch and arrest someone suspected of a crime.

Compare: In the film, the detective apprehends the thief at the station.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From French or Latin apprehendere, meaning to grasp or take hold of.

Did you know?

Apprehend is a formal alternative to arrest in police reports and news.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

  1. Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
  2. Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
  3. Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.

Share this word

Save the image or share a link to this word.

@englishskillstudio

apprehend

/ˌæprɪˈhend/ (Verb)

“This meaning refers to arresting a person. Avoid using it for simply catching a bus or a ball.”

englishskillstudio.com