apprehensive — anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
Example Sentences
- She was apprehensive about eating her roommate's mysterious leftover curry that had been glowing in the dark fridge for three weeks.
- The students looked apprehensive as the teacher announced a surprise exam on quantum physics.
- He felt apprehensive about his first skydiving experience, especially after watching too many fail compilation videos on YouTube.
apprehensive
ADJECTIVE[/ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/]
anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen
She felt apprehensive standing outside the principal's office, clutching her report card.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'apprehendere' meaning 'to seize or grasp,' which combines 'ad-' (to) and 'prehendere' (to seize). The sense evolved from physical grasping to mental understanding, then to anxious anticipation of future events.
Breakdown
ap- (to) + pre- (before) + hend (seize/grasp) + -ive (adjective suffix) = apprehensive (seizing beforehand; anticipating with anxiety)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“She was apprehensive about eating her roommate's mysterious leftover curry that had been glowing in the dark fridge for three weeks.”
“The students looked apprehensive as the teacher announced a surprise exam on quantum physics.”
“He felt apprehensive about his first skydiving experience, especially after watching too many fail compilation videos on YouTube.”
“Parents often feel apprehensive when their teenagers start driving.”
📚Related Words
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