apprehension
noun
ap·pre·hen·sion ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-shən 
1
: suspicion or fear especially of future evil : foreboding
an atmosphere of nervous apprehension
2
: seizure by legal process : arrest
apprehension of a criminal
3
a
: the act or power of perceiving or comprehending something
a person of dull apprehension
b
: the result of apprehending something mentally : conception
according to popular apprehension
Did you know?
Latin Helps Build Apprehension
The Latin verb prehendere really grabs our attention. It means "to grasp" or "to seize," and it is an ancestor of various English words. It teamed up with the prefix ad- (which takes the form ap- before p and means "to," "toward," or "near") to form apprehendere, the Latin predecessor of our words apprehension, apprehend, and apprehensive. When prehendere joined the prefix com- ("with," "together," "jointly"), Latin got comprehendere, and English eventually got comprehend, comprehension, and comprehensive. Prehendere also gave us the words comprise, prehensile ("adapted for seizing or grasping"), prison, reprehend, and reprise, among others.
Synonyms
- alarm
- alarum
- apprehensiveness
- dread
- foreboding
- misgiving
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The thought of moving to a new city fills me with apprehension. an increased number of apprehensions
Recent Examples on the Web The Border Patrol apprehension rate has increased dramatically over the years, reaching 90% in 2019 and 66% in 2020. 
Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 Peto performed many exceptional duties such as the recognition of drugs, apprehension of suspects, searches for contraband, and protection of his handler. Shirley Macfarland, cleveland, 17 June 2022 The seven-track, 40-minute project (the band’s shortest) balances two halves, the first unfurling the aforementioned apprehension that the American dream has gone the way of the iPod Mini. Bobby Olivier, SPIN, 4 May 2022 In a mere handful of pages, the reason behind her solitude and apprehension becomes clear. Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2022 But in South Texas, another unique kind of classroom lockdown occurs along the state’s 1,200-mile southern border: hunkering down because Border Patrol agents or state police are chasing migrants who are trying to evade apprehension. Jake Bleiberg And Acacia Coronado, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 But in South Texas, another unique kind of classroom lockdown occurs along the state's 1,200-mile southern border: hunkering down because Border Patrol agents or state police are chasing migrants who are trying to evade apprehension. CBS News, 20 July 2022 For the European Central Bank — which next gathers on Thursday to much apprehension in markets — the prospect of a downturn further complicates an already wrenching set of decisions. New York Times, 16 July 2022 The initial meeting spot for the march was at the Anthem Veterans Memorial near the community center but apprehension from members of the community and local organizations led Gelbaugh to change the location. Haleigh Kochanski, The Arizona Republic, 10 July 2022 See More
Camilo Montoya-galvez, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 Peto performed many exceptional duties such as the recognition of drugs, apprehension of suspects, searches for contraband, and protection of his handler. Shirley Macfarland, cleveland, 17 June 2022 The seven-track, 40-minute project (the band’s shortest) balances two halves, the first unfurling the aforementioned apprehension that the American dream has gone the way of the iPod Mini. Bobby Olivier, SPIN, 4 May 2022 In a mere handful of pages, the reason behind her solitude and apprehension becomes clear. Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2022 But in South Texas, another unique kind of classroom lockdown occurs along the state’s 1,200-mile southern border: hunkering down because Border Patrol agents or state police are chasing migrants who are trying to evade apprehension. Jake Bleiberg And Acacia Coronado, Anchorage Daily News, 20 July 2022 But in South Texas, another unique kind of classroom lockdown occurs along the state's 1,200-mile southern border: hunkering down because Border Patrol agents or state police are chasing migrants who are trying to evade apprehension. CBS News, 20 July 2022 For the European Central Bank — which next gathers on Thursday to much apprehension in markets — the prospect of a downturn further complicates an already wrenching set of decisions. New York Times, 16 July 2022 The initial meeting spot for the march was at the Anthem Veterans Memorial near the community center but apprehension from members of the community and local organizations led Gelbaugh to change the location. Haleigh Kochanski, The Arizona Republic, 10 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Late Latin apprehension-, apprehensio, from Latin apprehendere — see apprehend
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Kids Definition
apprehension
noun
ap·pre·hen·sion ˌa-pri-ˈhen-shən
1
: arrest entry 2
2
: fear of or uncertainty about what may be coming
They approached the old house with apprehension.
3
: an understanding of something apprehension of the poem's message
Legal Definition
apprehension
noun
ap·pre·hen·sion ˌa-pri-ˈhen-chən
: arrest
apprehension
noun
1
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune the hikers entered the dark cave with a great deal of apprehension Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dread
- fearfulness
- apprehensiveness
- anxiety
- worry
- uncertainty
- unease
- concern
- misgiving
- uneasiness
- anxiousness
- disquietude
- alarm
- foreboding
- suspense
- doubt
- disquiet
- agitation
- mistrust
- alarum
- wariness
- distress
- suspiciousness
- perturbation
- solicitude
- incertitude
- pessimism
- disturbance
- funk
- scruple
- defeatism
- presentiment
- premonition
- foreknowledge
- presage
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- excitement
- anticipation
- hope
- confidence
- hopefulness
- optimism
- sanguinity
2
as in arrest
the act of taking into one's control by authority of law apprehension of the burglar set the neighborhood at ease Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrest
- arrestment
- raid
- imprisonment
- pinch
- seizure
- collar
- entrapment
- bust
- capture
- confinement
- detention
- incarceration
- restraint
- captivity
- house arrest
- rearrest
- remand
- enchainment
- immurement
- hold
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- discharge
- liberation
- release
- emancipation
3
as in fear
an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble felt a great deal of apprehension about the trip and about arriving safely Synonyms & Similar Words
- fear
- concern
- anxiety
- worry
- unease
- concernment
- uneasiness
- apprehensiveness
- nervousness
- fearfulness
- anxiousness
- disquietude
- uncertainty
- agitation
- disquiet
- solicitude
- perturbation
- tension
- discomfort
- dread
- panic
- agita
- desperation
- anguish
- doubt
- nervosity
- care
- stress
- sweat
- dismay
- consternation
- distress
- desperateness
- disturbance
- discomposure
- tremor
- jumpiness
- jitters
- angst
- suspense
- alarm
- misgiving
- edginess
- vexation
- incertitude
- upset
- strain
- torment
- franticness
- presentiment
- qualm
- foreboding
- compunction
- distraction
- scruple
- hand-wringing
- alarum
- cold feet
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unconcern
- ease
- calmness
- contentment
- tranquility
- peace
- easiness
- serenity
- relief
- quietude
- calm
- tranquillity
- peacefulness
- content
- placidity
- placidness
- comfort
- quiet
- consolation
- solace
- sereneness
- tranquilness
4
as in understanding
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something a good apprehension of how computer systems work Synonyms & Similar Words
- understanding
- appreciation
- perception
- comprehension
- grasp
- awareness
- grip
- percipience
- absorption
- conception
- assimilation
- realization
- digestion
- consciousness
- uptake
- hold
- enlightenment
- visualization
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- incomprehension
- misunderstanding
- misapprehension
- misinterpretation
- misperception
- miscomprehension
- noncomprehension
- nonemergency
- nonemotional
- nonemphatic
- nonempirical
- nonemployee
- nonemployees
- nonemployment
- nonemployments
- nonencapsulated
- nonending
- nonene
- nonenforceabilities
- nonenforcement
- nonenforcements
- nonengagement
- nonengagements
- nonengineering
- nonengineerings
- nonent
- nonentanglement
- nonentertainments
- nonentitative
- nonentities
- nonentitive
- nonentity