apprehensive

Meaning

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Worried or a little afraid that something unpleasant is going to happen.

   Grammar: Often followed by about or of: apprehensive about the exam.

   Patterns

   • apprehensive about something
   • apprehensive of something
   • apprehensive that something might happen

   She felt apprehensive about meeting his parents for the first time.

   The patients were apprehensive before the surgery.

   He gave an apprehensive glance at the dark staircase.

Word forms

Common combinations

apprehensive about

I am apprehensive about the long drive.

feel apprehensive

Many new students feel apprehensive on the first day.

slightly apprehensive

He was slightly apprehensive about the result.

an apprehensive look

The child gave the dog an apprehensive look.

apprehensive of

The team was apprehensive of another defeat.

Synonyms and how they differ

anxious

Anxious is the more general word and can describe long-term worry, whereas apprehensive points to worry about a particular event ahead.

uneasy

Uneasy suggests a vague feeling that something is wrong, while apprehensive expects a specific problem.

nervous

Nervous is informal and covers shaking or tension, and it does not stress looking ahead to something bad.

fearful

Fearful is stronger, suggesting real fear rather than mild worry.

Opposites

Word family

apprehension noun

a feeling of worry about the future

apprehensively adverb

in a worried or nervous way

apprehensiveness noun

the state of being worried about what may happen

apprehend verb

to arrest someone, or to understand something

Commonly confused: apprehensive or comprehensive?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “apprehensive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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