To apprehend is to seize, either physically or mentally. So to apprehend a thief is to nab him. But to apprehend a confusing news story, or to apprehend a difficult concept in physics, is to understand …

To become conscious of, as through the emotions or senses; perceive: "She began to look with her own eyes; to see and to apprehend the deeper undercurrents of life" (Kate Chopin).

apprehend verb [T] (CATCH) Add to word list to catch and arrest someone who has not obeyed the law:

Apprehend definition: to take into custody; arrest by legal warrant or authority.. See examples of APPREHEND used in a sentence.

Dec 8, 2016 · If the police apprehend someone, they catch them and arrest them. The police have apprehended a suspect.

Oct 8, 2025 · The words apprehend and comprehend both describe acts of the mind. However, while apprehend denotes grasping something mentally so as to understand it clearly, at least in part, …

apprehend something (old-fashioned) to understand or recognize something. He was slow to apprehend danger. Definition of apprehend verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, …

To apprehend is to capture or arrest, as when the police try to apprehend criminals and bring them to justice. You also apprehend a concept when you understand it, grasping or capturing its meaning.

apprehend, v. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025 ap•pre•hend /ˌæprɪˈhɛnd/ v. [~ + object] to take into custody; arrest: The police apprehended the burglars. to …