apprehension.

1. An uneasy expectation that something unpleasant may happen.

2. The act of capturing or arresting someone.

3. Understanding or mental recognition of something.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• apprehension about tomorrow

On the page

Apprehension kept her near the door.

He felt apprehension about the return journey.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. Forms: Usually uncountable for anticipation or understanding; plural apprehensions for capture events. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.