SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
apprehend
verb
To understand or perceive something; also to take someone into custody.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Understand
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topFathom suggests understanding something difficult; perceive can simply mean noticing.
Take into custody
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topNab and collar are informal; detention need not amount to a formal arrest.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See apprehend in use
The example helped the students apprehend the distinction between evidence and interpretation.
A transparent overlay helped Mara apprehend how the reversed tracing related to the final print, making the change visible at each step.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license