arrest

[ uh-rest ]

verb (used with object)

1. to seize (a person) by legal authority or warrant; take into custody:

   The police arrested the burglar.

   Synonyms: apprehend

2. to catch and hold; attract and fix; engage:

   The loud noise arrested our attention.

   Synonyms: occupy, rivet, secure

3. to check the course of; stop; slow down:

   to arrest progress.

   Synonyms: stay

4. Medicine/Medical. to control or stop the active progress of (a disease):

   The new drug did not arrest the cancer.

noun

1. the taking of a person into legal custody, as by officers of the law.

   Synonyms: imprisonment, apprehension, detention

2. any seizure or taking by force.
3. an act of stopping or the state of being stopped:

   the arrest of tooth decay.

   Synonyms: check, stay, halt, stoppage

4. Machinery. any device for stopping machinery; stop.

arrest

/ əˈrɛst /

verb

1. to deprive (a person) of liberty by taking him into custody, esp under lawful authority
2. to seize (a ship) under lawful authority
3. to slow or stop the development or progress of (a disease, growth, etc)
4. to catch and hold (one's attention, sight, etc)
5. arrest judgment
   law to stay proceedings after a verdict, on the grounds of error or possible error
6. can't get arrested informal.
   (of a performer) is unrecognized and unsuccessful

   he can't get arrested here but is a megastar in the States

noun

1. the act of taking a person into custody, esp under lawful authority
2. the act of seizing and holding a ship under lawful authority
3. the state of being held, esp under lawful authority

   under arrest

4. Also calledarrestationˌærɛsˈteɪʃən the slowing or stopping of the development or progress of something
5. the stopping or sudden cessation of motion of something

   a cardiac arrest

Other Words From

• ar·resta·ble adjective
• ar·restment noun
• postar·rest adjective
• prear·rest verb (used with object)
• prear·restment noun
• rear·rest verb (used with object) noun
• unar·resta·ble adjective
• unar·rested adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrest¹

1275–1325; (v.) Middle English aresten < Anglo-French, Middle French arester, < Vulgar Latin *arrestāre to stop ( ar-, rest ² ); (noun) Middle English arest ( e ) < Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of arrest¹

C14: from Old French arester, from Vulgar Latin arrestāre (unattested), from Latin ad at, to + restāre to stand firm, stop

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. under arrest, in custody of the police or other legal authorities:

   They placed the suspect under arrest at the scene of the crime.

More idioms and phrases containing arrest

see under arrest .

Synonym Study

See stop.

Example Sentences

More than a year later he remains under house arrest.

From BBC

"I think it is one of the rules of the authoritarian government, to arrest, to detain the people who have the power to impact opinion," Mr Ibadoglu told the BBC in an interview this week.

From BBC

Officers assigned to the holiday lighting event helped track down and arrest the suspect in the 200 block of South Beverly Drive, according to police.

From Los Angeles Times

She continued to use the false identity until her arrest in 2016 and caused more than $120,000 in losses to banks and retailers.

From Los Angeles Times

Lichtenstein, who has been in prison since his arrest in February 2022, expressed remorse for his actions.

From BBC

Related Words

• apprehend
• capture
• catch
• detain
• imprison
• incarcerate
• jail
• round up
• seize