apprehension
/,æpri'henʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Apprehension is a noun with three primary meanings, all relating to the act of grasping or seizing something, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally.
The act of arresting or capturing someone.
- This meaning refers to the physical act of seizing or taking someone into custody, typically by law enforcement.
Understanding or perception; the mental act of grasping an idea.
- This meaning refers to the intellectual ability to comprehend, perceive, or understand something.
Anxiety or fear about a future event; dread.
- This meaning refers to the emotional state of anticipating something negative or threatening with worry or fear.
Examples of Usage
- Meaning 1 (Arrest):
- The apprehension of the suspect was carried out by the federal agents.
- His quick apprehension by the security guard prevented the theft.
- Meaning 2 (Understanding):
- She has a keen apprehension of complex philosophical concepts.
- The teacher tested the students' apprehension of the material with a quiz.
- Meaning 3 (Anxiety):
- He felt a growing sense of apprehension as the interview date approached.
- There is widespread apprehension about the potential economic downturn.
Advanced Usage
- "To be under the apprehension that...": To believe or fear that something is the case.
- I was under the apprehension that the meeting had been canceled.
- "To entertain/have apprehensions about/for/of...": To have fears or worries concerning something.
- She had serious apprehensions about moving to a new country.
Variants and Related Words
- Apprehend (verb):
- To arrest someone. The police will apprehend the criminal.
- To understand or perceive something. It is difficult to apprehend the full scope of the problem.
- Apprehensive (adjective): Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.
- She felt apprehensive before her surgery.
- Apprehensible (adjective): Capable of being understood or perceived.
- The concept is not easily apprehensible to a beginner.
Synonyms
- For Meaning 1 (Arrest): Capture, seizure, arrest, detention.
- For Meaning 2 (Understanding): Comprehension, understanding, perception, grasp.
- For Meaning 3 (Anxiety): Anxiety, dread, trepidation, unease, foreboding, misgiving.
Antonyms
- For Meaning 1 (Arrest): Release, liberation.
- For Meaning 2 (Understanding): Incomprehension, misunderstanding.
- For Meaning 3 (Anxiety): Confidence, calmness, assurance.
Noun
- the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
- the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar
- painful expectation
- the cognitive condition of someone who understands
- he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect
- fearful expectation or anticipation
- the student looked around the examination room with apprehension