Apprehending Meaning in English
word · lemma: apprehend
Definition
Catching or arresting someone, especially in law enforcement; it can also mean understanding something, usually in a formal or technical sense.
Usage & Nuances
Mostly formal or technical; often used in legal or police contexts for 'catching' a suspect, but can also mean 'understanding' in academic or philosophical writing. The physical sense ('arresting') is far more common than the mental ('understanding') meaning in everyday English.
Example Sentences
The police are apprehending the suspect now.
basic
They are apprehending the dangers of the plan.
basic
Security was successful in apprehending the intruder.
basic
After hours of searching, they ended up apprehending two suspects downtown.
natural
She’s quick at apprehending complex ideas others miss.
natural
The officer focused on apprehending the main suspect before he could flee.
natural