Definition

Apprehension is a noun with three primary meanings, all relating to the act of grasping or seizing something, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.

1. The act of arresting or capturing someone.

   • This meaning refers to the physical act of seizing or taking someone into custody, typically by law enforcement.

2. Understanding or perception; the mental act of grasping an idea.

   • This meaning refers to the intellectual ability to comprehend, perceive, or understand something.

3. Anxiety or fear about a future event; dread.

   • This meaning refers to the emotional state of anticipating something negative or threatening with worry or fear.

Examples of Usage

• Meaning 1 (Arrest):
  • The apprehension of the suspect was carried out by the federal agents.
  • His quick apprehension by the security guard prevented the theft.
• Meaning 2 (Understanding):
  • She has a keen apprehension of complex philosophical concepts.
  • The teacher tested the students' apprehension of the material with a quiz.
• Meaning 3 (Anxiety):
  • He felt a growing sense of apprehension as the interview date approached.
  • There is widespread apprehension about the potential economic downturn.

Advanced Usage

• "To be under the apprehension that...": To believe or fear that something is the case.
  • I was under the apprehension that the meeting had been canceled.
• "To entertain/have apprehensions about/for/of...": To have fears or worries concerning something.
  • She had serious apprehensions about moving to a new country.

Variants and Related Words

• Apprehend (verb):
  • To arrest someone. The police will apprehend the criminal.
  • To understand or perceive something. It is difficult to apprehend the full scope of the problem.
• Apprehensive (adjective): Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
  • She felt apprehensive before her surgery.
• Apprehensible (adjective): Capable of being understood or perceived.
  • The concept is not easily apprehensible to a beginner.

Synonyms

• For Meaning 1 (Arrest): Capture, seizure, arrest, detention.
• For Meaning 2 (Understanding): Comprehension, understanding, perception, grasp.
• For Meaning 3 (Anxiety): Anxiety, dread, trepidation, unease, foreboding, misgiving.

Antonyms

• For Meaning 1 (Arrest): Release, liberation.
• For Meaning 2 (Understanding): Incomprehension, misunderstanding.
• For Meaning 3 (Anxiety): Confidence, calmness, assurance.

Noun

1. the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
   • the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar
2. painful expectation
3. the cognitive condition of someone who understands
   • he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect
4. fearful expectation or anticipation
   • the student looked around the examination room with apprehension