apprehension
gb/ˌæpɹihˈɛnʃən/ us/ˌæpɹihˈɛnʃən/
B2
English
~ 4300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
state
1
fear about future events
A feeling of being worried or afraid about something that could happen.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels apprehension about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'apprehension' with 'comprehension', which means understanding, not fear.
Synonyms
anxiety (Often a stronger or more general term for nervousness or worry.)
|
unease (A milder or subtler sense of discomfort.)
Antonyms
confidence (A feeling of certainty and lack of fear about the future.)
|
assurance (A strong feeling that things will go well.)
Collocations
sense of apprehension
|feeling of apprehension
|with apprehension
|great apprehension
|look of apprehension
Themes
emotions
|mental health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She waited with growing apprehension for the test results.
- There was a sense of apprehension in the room before the meeting started.
- He approached the dark alley with apprehension.
- The announcement filled the workers with apprehension about their jobs.
- Her voice trembled with apprehension as she spoke.
Learner examples
- I feel some apprehension before the exam.
- She walked into the room with apprehension.
- There is apprehension about the new rules.
- He looked at the dog with apprehension.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
act of arresting someone
When the police catch and take someone away because they may have done something wrong.
Usage pattern:
the apprehension of [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'apprehension' here means fear; in legal contexts it means arrest.
Synonyms
arrest (The most common everyday term for taking someone into custody.)
|
capture (Emphasizes physically catching someone, sometimes after pursuit.)
Antonyms
release (The act of freeing someone from custody.)
Collocations
apprehension of the suspect
|swift apprehension
|police apprehension
|successful apprehension
Themes
law
|crime
Examples
- The police announced the quick apprehension of the bank robbers.
- His apprehension came after a week-long manhunt.
- The suspect's apprehension brought relief to the community.
- Authorities are offering a reward for information leading to her apprehension.
Learner examples
- The police made an apprehension last night.
- The man’s apprehension happened at the airport.
- They want to help in the criminal’s apprehension.
Noun
formal
C2
state
3
understanding of an idea
The ability to understand an idea or fact.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s apprehension of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse this sense with fear; in this meaning it is related to mental understanding and is less common in everyday speech.
Synonyms
comprehension (The most common modern term for understanding.)
|
grasp (Informal term meaning mental hold on an idea.)
Antonyms
misunderstanding (Failure to understand something correctly.)
Collocations
clear apprehension
|apprehension of the concept
|deep apprehension
|little apprehension
Themes
education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her quick apprehension of complex theories impressed her professor.
- The course aims to improve students’ apprehension of historical events.
- Without proper context, his apprehension of the issue was limited.
Learner examples
- He has good apprehension of grammar rules.
- Her apprehension of science is strong.
- I want to improve my apprehension of English words.
Grammar
Dictionary form
apprehension
IPA
GB/ˌæpɹihˈɛnʃən/
US/ˌæpɹihˈɛnʃən/
Syllables & stress
ap - pre - hen - sion (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (hen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: apprehension
- Plural: apprehension, apprehensions
Word family
Forms
apprehensions
noun
Core family
apprehensive
adjective B2
apprehend
verb B2
Related words
apprehensively
adverb
apprehensiveness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
misapprehension
noun
misapprehend
verb
Advanced or less common
apprehensible
adjective
Expressions
in apprehension of
1/ˈɪn ˌæpɹihˈɛnʃən əv/
fixed phrase
formal
in expectation or fear of something
Because you expect or are afraid that something will happen.
Examples
- The soldiers waited in apprehension of the enemy’s next move.
- She stayed home in apprehension of bad weather.