# arrested

/ɝˈɛstɪd/ (US) · /ɐɹˈɛstɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/arrested
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. taken by police

verb · CEFR B1

to be taken by the police because they think you committed a crime.

For teachers: the past tense or past participle of 'arrest', referring to the act of seizing someone by legal authority.

- The police arrested the man after he tried to steal a car.
- The suspect was arrested shortly after the robbery took place, as several witnesses were able to provide a detailed description to the responding officers.

### 2. under police custody

adjective · CEFR B1

describes a person who has been caught and held by the police.

For teachers: describes the state of an individual who has been taken into legal custody or charged with a criminal offence.

- The arrested woman was allowed to make one phone call from the station.
- Legal counsel was provided to the arrested individuals before the formal interrogation began at the precinct.

### 3. stopped or delayed

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

stopped from growing, moving, or developing normally.

For teachers: referring to a state where development or progress has been halted or significantly delayed.

- The doctor explained that the disease caused the patient's arrested growth.
- The researchers observed a state of arrested development in the larvae when the temperature of the incubator dropped below the required threshold.

## Examples

- The police arrested the man for stealing a car.
- After a long investigation, the suspect was arrested at his home early on Tuesday morning.
- The authorities arrested the protesters not for their political views, but for obstructing the main thoroughfare and preventing emergency vehicles from reaching the hospital.

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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.