Meaning & Definition of word "Apprehension"

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    Apprehension

    /ˌæprɪˈhɛnʃən/

    noun:

    • 1. Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
      • Example: She felt a sense of apprehension as she waited for the test results.
    • 2. Understanding or awareness of something.
      • Example: His apprehension of the complex topic surprised his teachers.
    • 3. The act of perceiving or apprehending an idea or concept.
      • Example: Apprehension of the new information took a while for the students.

    Etymology

    From Latin 'apprehensio', from 'apprehendere' meaning 'to seize, grasp, or take hold of'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    sense of apprehension:

    a feeling of anxiety regarding potential danger or trouble.

    apprehensive about:

    worried or fearful about something.

    apprehension of danger:

    an awareness or recognition of potential harm or risk.

    Related Words

    apprehend:

    to seize or take hold of, often in a legal context.

    apprehensive:

    feeling anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.

    apprehensiveness:

    the quality of being apprehensive; anxiety.

    Slang Meanings of apprehension

    Meaning: the jitters

    Example Sentence: I've got the jitters about tomorrow's big presentation.

    Meaning: butterflies in the stomach

    Example Sentence: I always get butterflies in the stomach before speaking in public.