apprehend
gb/ˌæpɹihˈɛnd/ us/ˌæpɹihˈɛnd/
B2
Inglês
~ 8100
Aceções
0 aceções
Verbo
formal
B2
action
1
Arrest and take into custody
To catch someone, usually a criminal, and take them into police control.
Padrão de uso:
to apprehend [someone]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "apprehend" with the more common verb "comprehend" because they look similar. "Apprehend" in this sense means to arrest someone, while "comprehend" means to understand something. Many situations where beginners try to use "apprehend" (e.g., "I apprehend your point") actually require "understand" or "comprehend".
Sinónimos
arrest (More common general word; used in both everyday and legal contexts.)
|
capture (Suggests catching someone after a chase; can also be used outside legal contexts (e.g., capture a flag).)
|
detain (Focuses on holding someone, often temporarily, rather than the act of catching them.)
Antónimos
release (Means to let someone go from custody, the opposite of taking them into custody.)
Colocações
apprehend a suspect
|apprehend the offender
|be apprehended by police
|attempt to apprehend
|flee to avoid apprehension
|swiftly apprehend
Temas
law
|crime
|public safety
Exemplos
- The police apprehended the suspect just a few miles from the scene of the robbery.
- After a week-long manhunt, the fugitive was finally apprehended at the border.
- Authorities are still working to apprehend the two men seen on the security footage.
- Anyone with information that could help apprehend the attacker is urged to contact the police.
- The officers moved quickly to apprehend the driver who tried to flee the traffic stop.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The police apprehended the thief last night.
- He was apprehended at the airport when he tried to leave the country.
- Three men were apprehended after the bank was robbed.
- The criminal ran, but the police apprehended him in a few minutes.
- The officer wants to apprehend the person who broke the window.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
2
Understand mentally or intellectually
To understand something in your mind, especially when it is not easy to understand.
Padrão de uso:
to apprehend [something]
Erro comum:
Learners often try to use this formal sense of "apprehend" in everyday speech instead of the much more common "understand" (e.g., "I apprehend English well"). In conversation, this sounds unnatural or overly formal. Reserve "apprehend" for formal writing or serious discussion, and use "understand" or "get" in normal speech.
Sinónimos
understand (General and neutral; used in almost all contexts where this formal sense of "apprehend" appears.)
|
grasp (Informal or neutral; suggests suddenly or firmly understanding something, especially something difficult.)
|
comprehend (Formal; very close in meaning to this sense of "apprehend", often interchangeable in academic or official writing.)
Antónimos
misunderstand (Highlights that the idea is understood incorrectly rather than not understood at all.)
Colocações
fully apprehend
|fail to apprehend
|unable to apprehend
|apprehend the meaning
|difficult to apprehend
|clearly apprehend
Temas
thinking
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Many people still do not fully apprehend the long-term effects of climate change.
- It took years for her to apprehend the depth of his influence on her work.
- The report is written in technical language that most readers will struggle to apprehend.
- He could not apprehend why the decision had caused so much anger.
- To truly apprehend this concept, you need to see how it works in real life.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Some students cannot apprehend the main idea of the text.
- I slowly began to apprehend what the problem was.
- It is hard to apprehend this theory without examples.
- She did not fully apprehend the risk she was taking.
- He failed to apprehend the meaning of the question.
Verbo
literary
C2
action
3
Anticipate danger or trouble fearfully
To think that something bad may happen and to feel worried or afraid about it.
Padrão de uso:
to apprehend [danger / harm / evil]
Erro comum:
Learners rarely use this sense, but when they do, they may confuse it with the noun "apprehension" (e.g., "I apprehend about the exam"), which is incorrect. Use "I feel apprehension" or more naturally "I am apprehensive" or "I am worried". As a verb, this sense of "apprehend" is very formal and mainly appears in written or literary contexts.
Sinónimos
fear (More general; focuses on the emotion itself, while "apprehend" also includes the idea of expecting something bad.)
|
dread (Stronger emotional tone; suggests intense fear or horror about something expected.)
|
anticipate (Neutral in itself; only suggests looking ahead, without the built-in idea of fear that "apprehend" has in this sense.)
Antónimos
hope (Means to expect something good to happen, which contrasts with expecting something bad.)
Colocações
apprehend danger
|apprehend harm
|have reason to apprehend
|apprehend serious consequences
|apprehend no danger
Temas
emotions
|risk
Exemplos
- Citizens have reason to apprehend serious unrest if the talks fail.
- The villagers did not apprehend any danger until the river began to rise.
- The committee appears to apprehend grave consequences if the policy is approved.
- She could not apprehend what new disaster might await them at dawn.
- He claimed to apprehend no threat in the quiet streets of the town.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- People in the city apprehend more violence after the attack.
- The parents apprehend trouble if their son leaves school early.
- We apprehend danger when we see dark clouds and strong wind.
- He did not apprehend any problem before he signed the paper.
- They apprehend more problems if the price goes up again.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
apprehend
IPA
GB/ˌæpɹihˈɛnd/
US/ˌæpɹihˈɛnd/
Sílabas e acento
ap - pre - hend (3 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (hend)
Formas da palavra
Verb
- Base: apprehend
- 3rd Person Singular: apprehends
- Present Participle: apprehending
- Past: apprehended
Família de palavras
Forms
apprehends
verb
apprehending
verb
apprehended
verb
Core family
apprehension
noun B2
apprehensive
adjective B2
Related words
apprehensively
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
misapprehend
verb
misapprehension
noun
Advanced or less common
apprehensiveness
noun
Expressões
Ainda não há expressões associadas a esta entrada.