Meaning & Definition of word "Apprehension"

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.