apprehensive

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnsɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #26719

Meanings

1

adj
Worried or anxious that something bad might happen.

She felt apprehensive about her first day at the new job.
2

adj
Fearful of possible harm or danger.

He grew apprehensive for his life as the storm worsened.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · worried or anxious that... worried

Word family

Derived forms apprehensivelyapprehensivenessinapprehensivemisapprehensiveoverapprehensiveunapprehensive

Etymology

From Latin apprehensīvus, from apprehensus, perfect passive participle of apprehendō (“to apprehend, understand, learn”) + -īvus (“-ive”).

apprehensīvus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# apprehensive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌæpɹɪˈhɛnsɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 26719

## Meanings
1. Worried or anxious that something bad might happen.
2. Fearful of possible harm or danger.

## Examples
- She felt apprehensive about her first day at the new job.
- He grew apprehensive for his life as the storm worsened.

## Derived Forms
- apprehensively
- apprehensiveness
- inapprehensive
- misapprehensive
- overapprehensive
- unapprehensive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: apprehensīvus

## Etymology
From Latin apprehensīvus, from apprehensus, perfect passive participle of apprehendō (“to apprehend, understand, learn”) + -īvus (“-ive”).

## AI Etymology
Apprehensive is from Latin apprehensīvus, from apprehensus, perfect passive participle of apprehendō (“to apprehend, understand, learn”) + -īvus (“-ive”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it can mean worried or anxious that something bad might happen, or fearful of possible harm or danger. Derived formations include apprehensively, apprehensiveness, inapprehensive, misapprehensive, overapprehensive.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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