Word
apprehension
Phoneticsap·pre·hen·sion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnʃən/
UK/ˌæpɹɪhˈɛnʃən/
Definitions
01anxiety or fear
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a feeling of worry or fear that something bad will happen in the future.
n. anxiety or fear that something unpleasant or undesirable will occur.
“She felt a sense of apprehension as she walked into the interview room.”
“Despite the positive economic forecasts, a lingering sense of apprehension remained among the staff regarding the upcoming merger.”
Antonyms
02legal arrest
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the act of the police catching and arresting someone.
n. the act of arresting or capturing someone, particularly a criminal suspect.
Español:arresto
“The police are offering a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the thief.”
“The rapid apprehension of the suspects was credited to the seamless coordination between local law enforcement and federal agencies.”
Usage
Often used in formal police reports or legal contexts.
03understanding
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Formal · Academic
n. the ability to understand or grasp an idea.
n. the cognitive act of understanding or perceiving the meaning of something.
“The student showed a clear apprehension of the difficult math concepts.”
“Her quick apprehension of the complex legal framework allowed the firm to pivot its strategy before the deadline.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“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.” “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.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin apprehensio, apprehensionis, compare with French appréhension. See apprehend.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/apprehension
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0