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apprehensive

ap·pre·hen·sive
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ap-ri-hen-siv]
    • /ˌæp rɪˈhɛn sɪv/
    • /ˌæp.rɪˈhen.sɪv/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ap-ri-hen-siv]
    • /ˌæp rɪˈhɛn sɪv/

Definitions of apprehensive word

  • adjective apprehensive Someone who is apprehensive is afraid that something bad may happen. 3
  • adjective apprehensive fearful or anxious 3
  • adjective apprehensive able or quick to apprehend or understand 3
  • adjective apprehensive having to do with perceiving or understanding 3
  • adjective apprehensive anxious or fearful about the future; uneasy 3
  • adjective apprehensive uneasy or fearful about something that might happen: apprehensive for the safety of the mountain climbers. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of apprehensive

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
First recorded in 1350-1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word apprehēnsīvus. See apprehensible, -ive

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Apprehensive

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

apprehensive popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 71% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

apprehensive usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for apprehensive

adj apprehensive

  • jumpy — subject to sudden, involuntary starts, especially from nervousness, fear, excitement, etc.
  • afraid — If you are afraid of someone or afraid to do something, you are frightened because you think that something very unpleasant is going to happen to you.
  • uncertain — not definitely ascertainable or fixed, as in time of occurrence, number, dimensions, or quality.
  • concerned — If you are concerned to do something, you want to do it because you think it is important.
  • suspicious — tending to cause or excite suspicion; questionable: suspicious behavior.

adjective apprehensive

  • nervous — highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress.
  • fearful — causing or apt to cause fear; frightening: a fearful apparition.
  • hesitant — hesitating; undecided, doubtful, or disinclined.
  • frightened — thrown into a fright; afraid; scared; terrified: a frightened child cowering in the corner.
  • anxious — If you are anxious to do something or anxious that something should happen, you very much want to do it or very much want it to happen.

Antonyms for apprehensive

adj apprehensive

  • collected — An author's collected works or letters are all their works or letters published in one book or in a set of books.
  • composed — If someone is composed, they are calm and able to control their feelings.
  • laid-back — relaxed or unhurried: laid-back music rhythms.
  • confident — If you are confident about something, you are certain that it will happen in the way you want it to.
  • unquestionable — not open to question; beyond doubt or dispute; indisputable; undeniable; certain: an unquestionable fact.

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See also

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