Apprehension — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-shən/ ap·pre·hen·sion

Meaning & Definition of Apprehension

Apprehension (noun)

  1. suspicion or fear especially of future evil, foreboding
  2. seizure by legal process, arrest
  3. the act or power of perceiving or comprehending something

Apprehension (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune

    "the hikers entered the dark cave with a great deal of apprehension"

    similar: alarm, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving
    related: agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, concern, disquiet, disquietude, distress, disturbance, fearfulness, funk, perturbation, solicitude, suspense, unease, uneasiness, scruple, worry, doubt, incertitude, mistrust, suspiciousness, uncertainty, wariness, defeatism, pessimism, foreknowledge, premonition, presage, presentiment
    near: anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, confidence, optimism, sanguinity

  2. the act of taking into one's control by authority of law

    "apprehension of the burglar set the neighborhood at ease"

    similar: arrest, arrestment, bust (slang), collar, pinch
    related: raid, house arrest, capture, entrapment, seizure, captivity, confinement, detention, enchainment, hold, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, rearrest, remand
    opposite: discharge
    near: emancipation, liberation, release

  3. an uneasy state of mind usually over the possibility of an anticipated misfortune or trouble

    "felt a great deal of apprehension about the trip and about arriving safely"

    similar: agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehensiveness, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry
    related: strain, stress, tension, alarm, anguish, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, franticness, hand-wringing, jitters, jumpiness, panic, tremor, angst, fearfulness, torment, upset, vexation, cold feet, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty, compunction, qualm, scruple
    opposite: unconcern
    near: calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, comfort, consolation, relief, solace

  4. the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something

    "a good apprehension of how computer systems work"

    similar: appreciation, comprehension, grasp, grip, hold, perception, percipience, understanding
    related: absorption, assimilation, digestion, uptake, conception, visualization, awareness, consciousness, enlightenment, realization
    opposite: incomprehension, noncomprehension
    near: misapprehension, miscomprehension, misinterpretation, misperception, misunderstanding

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Apprehension

The most common words with a similar meaning to Apprehension:

Slang: bust
alarm, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving, arrest, arrestment, collar, pinch, agita, agitation, anxiety, anxiousness, care, concern, concernment, disquiet, disquietude, fear, nervosity, nervousness, perturbation, solicitude, sweat, unease, uneasiness, worry, appreciation, comprehension, grasp, grip, hold, perception, percipience, understanding

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Apprehension

Words with the opposite meaning of Apprehension:

discharge, unconcern, incomprehension, noncomprehension

Related Words for Apprehension

distress, disturbance, fearfulness, funk, suspense, scruple, doubt, incertitude, mistrust, suspiciousness, uncertainty, wariness, defeatism, pessimism, foreknowledge, premonition, presage, presentiment, raid, house arrest, capture, entrapment, seizure, captivity, confinement, detention, enchainment, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration

Near Antonyms of Apprehension

anticipation, excitement, hope, hopefulness, confidence, optimism, sanguinity, emancipation, liberation, release, calm, calmness, content, contentment, ease, easiness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, placidness, quiet, quietude, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, comfort, consolation, relief, solace

Origin & Etymology of Apprehension

Middle English, from Late Latin apprehension-, apprehensio, from Latin apprehendere see apprehend

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Apprehension

What does "Apprehension" mean?

"Apprehension" means suspicion or fear especially of future evil, foreboding. As a noun, it is defined as: suspicion or fear especially of future evil, foreboding. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Apprehension"?

Other words for "Apprehension" include alarm, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving, arrest, arrestment and bust. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Apprehension" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Apprehension"?

There are 104 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Apprehension". Common alternatives include alarm, apprehensiveness, dread, foreboding, misgiving, arrest, arrestment, bust, collar and pinch.

What is the opposite of "Apprehension"?

Antonyms of "Apprehension" include discharge, unconcern, incomprehension and noncomprehension. Near antonyms include anticipation, excitement, hope and hopefulness.

How do you use "Apprehension" in a sentence?

Examples of "Apprehension" in a sentence: "the hikers entered the dark cave with a great deal of apprehension"; "apprehension of the burglar set the neighborhood at ease"; "felt a great deal of apprehension about the trip and about arriving safely".

Is "Apprehension" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Apprehension" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Apprehension"?

"Apprehension" is pronounced /ˌa-pri-ˈhen(t)-shən/ and divided into syllables as ap·pre·hen·sion.

What is the origin of the word "Apprehension"?

"Apprehension" comes from Middle English, from Late Latin apprehension-, apprehensio, from Latin apprehendere see apprehend. First known use: 14th century.