Arrested — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ə-ˈrest/ ar·rest

Meaning & Definition of Arrested

Arrested (verb)

  1. seize, capture; specifically, to take or keep in custody by authority of law
  2. to bring to a stop
  3. check, slow

Arrested (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. taken and held prisoner

    "a line of arrested suspects waiting to be booked on a variety of charges"

    similar: apprehended, captive, captured, caught, confined, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, behind bars
    related: bound, enslaved, indentured, ensnared, trapped, abducted, kidnapped, subdued, subjugated, occupied
    opposite: free
    near: unconfined, unrestrained, delivered, emancipated, enfranchised, freed, liberated, paroled, released

Arrested (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up"

    similar: apprehended, busted (slang), collared, nabbed, nailed, nicked (British slang), picked up, pinched, pulled in, ran in, restrained, seized
    related: bagged, captured, caught, got, grabbed, grappled, hooked, landed, snapped (up), snared, snatched, trapped, committed, confined, detained, held, immured, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, jugged, locked (up), bound, enchained, fettered, handcuffed, manacled, shackled, trammeled, rearrested, remanded
    opposite: discharged
    near: emancipated, freed, liberated, loosed, loosened, released, sprang, unbound, unchained

  2. to bring (something) to a standstill

    "cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion"

    similar: brought up, caught, checked, drew up, fetched up, halted, held up, pulled up, stalled, stayed, stilled, stopped
    related: baffled, balked, blockaded, blocked, bottlenecked, clogged, dammed, detained, held, held back, hindered, impeded, obstructed, snagged, stemmed, concluded, cut off, ended, terminated, called, discontinued, suspended, choked off, reined (in), repressed, squashed, squelched, stanched, stunted, suppressed, turned back
    near: carried on, continued, followed through (with), kept (on), kept up, persisted, ran on, advanced, fared, marched, moved, proceeded, progressed, wended, went along, actuated, budged, drove, goaded, impelled, propelled, pushed, spurred, stirred

  3. to hold the attention of as if by a spell

    "the sight of the daredevil walking a tightrope between high-rises arrested area pedestrians and motorists alike"

    similar: bedazzled, caught up, enchanted, enthralled, fascinated, gripped, hypnotized, mesmerized, spellbound
    related: enraptured, entranced, thrilled, beguiled, bewitched, charmed, absorbed, engaged, engrossed, involved

Related Entry: Arrest (verb)

Arrest is a different word from Arrested. The synonyms below are for arrest, not for arrested.

  1. to take or keep under one's control by authority of law

    "the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up"

    similar: apprehend, bust (slang), collar, nab, nail, nick (British slang), pick up, pinch, pull in, restrain, run in, seize
    related: bag, capture, catch, get, grab, grapple, hook, land, snap (up), snare, snatch, trap, commit, confine, detain, hold, immure, imprison, incarcerate, intern, jail, jug, lock (up), bind, enchain, fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel, rearrest, remand
    opposite: discharge
    near: emancipate, free, liberate, loose, loosen, release, spring, unbind, unchain

  2. to bring (something) to a standstill

    "cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion"

    similar: bring up, catch, check, draw up, fetch up, halt, hold up, pull up, stall, stay, still, stop
    related: baffle, balk, block, blockade, bottleneck, clog, dam, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, obstruct, snag, stem, conclude, cut off, end, terminate, call, discontinue, suspend, choke off, rein (in), repress, squash, squelch, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep (on), keep up, persist, run on, advance, fare, go along, march, move, proceed, progress, wend, actuate, budge, drive, goad, impel, propel, push, spur, stir

  3. to hold the attention of as if by a spell

    "the sight of the daredevil walking a tightrope between high-rises arrested area pedestrians and motorists alike"

    similar: bedazzle, catch up, enchant, enthrall, fascinate, grip, hypnotize, mesmerize, spellbind
    related: enrapture, entrance, thrill, beguile, bewitch, charm, absorb, engage, engross, involve

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Arrested

The most common words with a similar meaning to Arrested:

Slang: busted
British slang: nicked
apprehended, captive, captured, caught, confined, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed, behind bars, collared, nabbed, nailed, picked up, pinched, pulled in, ran in, restrained, seized, brought up, checked, drew up, fetched up, halted, held up, pulled up, stalled, stayed, stilled, stopped, bedazzled, caught up, enchanted, enthralled, fascinated, gripped, hypnotized, mesmerized, spellbound

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Arrested

Words with the opposite meaning of Arrested:

free, discharged

Related Words for Arrested

bound, enslaved, indentured, ensnared, trapped, abducted, kidnapped, subdued, subjugated, occupied, bagged, got, grabbed, grappled, hooked, landed, snapped (up), snared, snatched, committed, detained, held, immured, jugged, locked (up), enchained, fettered, handcuffed, manacled, shackled

Near Antonyms of Arrested

unconfined, unrestrained, delivered, emancipated, enfranchised, freed, liberated, paroled, released, loosed, loosened, sprang, unbound, unchained, carried on, continued, followed through (with), kept (on), kept up, persisted, ran on, advanced, fared, marched, moved, proceeded, progressed, wended, went along, actuated

Word Forms of Arrested

Inflections: arresting, arrests

Derived words: arrester (noun), arrestment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Arrested

Middle English aresten, arresten "to stop, halt (something or someone), come to a halt, wait, restrain, seize (a lawbreaker), take into custody," borrowed from Anglo-French arester (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *arrestāre, from Latin ad- ad- (in Vulgar Latin marking or reinforcing transitivity) + restāre "to remain, be left unchanged" rest:4

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Arrested

What does "Arrested" mean?

"Arrested" means seize, capture; specifically, to take or keep in custody by authority of law. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: seize, capture; specifically, to take or keep in custody by authority of law. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Arrested"?

Other words for "Arrested" include apprehended, captive, captured, caught, confined, imprisoned, incarcerated and interned. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Arrested" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Arrested"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Arrested". Common alternatives include apprehended, captive, captured, caught, confined, imprisoned, incarcerated, interned, jailed and behind bars.

What is the opposite of "Arrested"?

Antonyms of "Arrested" include free and discharged. Near antonyms include unconfined, unrestrained, delivered and emancipated.

How do you use "Arrested" in a sentence?

Examples of "Arrested" in a sentence: "a line of arrested suspects waiting to be booked on a variety of charges"; "the inept robber was promptly arrested by the off-duty policeman he had tried to hold up"; "cryogenics is based on the idea that extreme cold can almost arrest molecular motion".

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

"Arrested" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Arrested"?

"Arrested" is pronounced /ə-ˈrest/ and divided into syllables as ar·rest.

What is the origin of the word "Arrested"?

"Arrested" comes from Middle English aresten, arresten "to stop, halt (something or someone), come to a halt, wait, restrain, seize (a lawbreaker), take into custody," borrowed from Anglo-French arester (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *arrestāre, from Latin ad- ad- (in Vulgar Latin marking or reinforcing transitivity) + restāre "to remain, be left unchanged" rest:4. First known use: 14th century.