# apprehensive

/ˌæpɹiˈhɛnsɪv/ (US) · /ˌæpɹɪhˈɛnsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/apprehensive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. worried about the future

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling worried or nervous about something you are going to do or something that might happen.

For teachers: anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen. Often used with 'about' or 'of'.

- I felt a bit apprehensive about starting my new job on Monday.
- The investors remained apprehensive about the market's volatility, despite the government's assurances that the economy was stabilizing.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'about' or 'of', or by a 'that' clause.

### 2. quick to understand

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic

able to learn or understand things quickly.

For teachers: capable of understanding or quick to perceive with the intellect.

- The young student was quite apprehensive and mastered the difficult lesson in minutes.
- In the old texts, the author describes the protagonist as an apprehensive youth, meaning he was sharp-witted and eager to learn.

Teaching tip: This sense is no longer used in modern English; students will only encounter it in literature from the 17th or 18th centuries.

## Examples

- I feel a bit apprehensive about my job interview tomorrow.
- Many students are apprehensive about the upcoming changes to the exam format and how they will affect their final grades.
- The investors remained apprehensive despite the CEO's reassurances, fearing that the volatile market conditions would eventually erode the company's quarterly profits.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.