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GRE vocabulary

apprehension

nounHigh-frequency wordMore A words

anxiety or fear about a future event; also, the act of understanding or grasping something mentally

Word origin: From Latin apprehendere, to seize (ad- to plus prehendere to grasp).

In a sentence

Apprehension in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing apprehension in a sentence.

She felt a creeping apprehension as the deadline for the verdict approached.

A faint apprehension settled over the crew as the storm clouds gathered on the horizon.

Synonyms
anxietydreaduneasetrepidation
Antonyms
Usage & nuance

Using “apprehension” well

Apprehension carries two senses: anxious dread of what may come, and the mental grasping of an idea. On the GRE the fearful sense is far more common, distinct from the neutral act of comprehension.

Common questions

Questions about “apprehension

Apprehension (noun) means anxiety or fear about a future event; also, the act of understanding or grasping something mentally
Here is apprehension used in an example sentence: "She felt a creeping apprehension as the deadline for the verdict approached." Another example: "A faint apprehension settled over the crew as the storm clouds gathered on the horizon."
Common synonyms for apprehension include anxiety, dread, unease, trepidation.
Antonyms of apprehension include confidence, composure, equanimity.
Apprehension pairs with anxiety, dread, unease, and trepidation in GRE Verbal. Its antonyms confidence, composure, and equanimity mark the calm a passage may set against it.
Yes. Apprehension is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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