apprehension
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a feeling of worry or fear that something bad will happen in the future.
anxiety or fear that something unpleasant or undesirable will occur.
Simple“She felt a sense of apprehension as she walked into the interview room.”
In context“Despite the positive economic forecasts, a lingering sense of apprehension remained among the staff regarding the upcoming merger.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the act of the police catching and arresting someone.
the act of arresting or capturing someone, particularly a criminal suspect.
Simple“The police are offering a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the thief.”
In context“The rapid apprehension of the suspects was credited to the seamless coordination between local law enforcement and federal agencies.”
UsageOften used in formal police reports or legal contexts.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
the ability to understand or grasp an idea.
the cognitive act of understanding or perceiving the meaning of something.
Simple“The student showed a clear apprehension of the difficult math concepts.”
In context“Her quick apprehension of the complex legal framework allowed the firm to pivot its strategy before the deadline.”
SynonymsAntonyms
“Since then, the Supreme Court has begun hearing cases involving allegations of violence and apprehensions that police could use face-recognition technology to harass protesters.”
“The fact that the 17-year-old was wearing a hoodie apparently justified his killing: for some people, the outfit was enough to provoke the fear and apprehension Zimmerman claimed to feel.”
Borrowed from Latin apprehensio, apprehensionis, compare with French appréhension. See apprehend.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.