arrest
word
Definition
To arrest someone is to legally take them into police custody because they are suspected of a crime. It can also mean to stop a process or movement, but the police meaning is the most common.
Usage & Nuances
Most often used in legal and police contexts: 'arrest a suspect', 'be under arrest', 'make an arrest'. Stronger and more official than 'stop' or 'catch'. In formal or medical language, it can also appear in phrases like 'cardiac arrest' or 'arrested development', where it means a sudden stop.
Example Sentences
The police arrested the man near the bank.
basic
He was arrested for stealing a bike.
basic
You are under arrest.
basic
They finally arrested the guy after months of investigation.
natural
The officer said she could arrest him if he came back.
natural
The doctors managed to arrest the spread of the infection.
natural