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

Migrants without papers are being arrested and deported.

From BBC

The city was preparing to sweep the street encampment, and this time would be arresting people under a new ordinance that bans camping in public spaces.

From Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Police Department recently arrested two suspects in connection with a serial “kidnap for robbery” scheme and are searching for additional victims.

From Los Angeles Times

But the sense of disorder created by open drug use and street camping has prompted an increasing number of cities to crack down on homeless people with more laws that allow removing and arresting them.

From Los Angeles Times

When Bedouin residents erected makeshift tents, the police ripped those down as well and threatened them with arrest.

From Salon

Related Words

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

More About Arrest

What does arrest mean?

To arrest someone is to seize them or take them into custody with authority.

Related to that, an arrest is the act of police or other law enforcement officials detaining someone suspected of committing a crime when there is probable cause.

Arrest can also more generally mean to attract and engage, such as with attention or sight. For example, a loud clap of thunder might arrest your attention for a moment, if you weren’t expecting it.

Arrest also means to slow or stop, such as with progress or growth. You might, for example, arrest the growth of a plant by keeping it in the dark while continuing to water it. Such an arrest could lead the plant to die.

Example: You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit grand theft auto.

Where does arrest come from?

The first records of the term arrest come from around the 1200s. It comes from the Vulgar Latin arrestāre, meaning “to stop.” Often arresting someone or something is done in an effort to stop them from doing something or from running away.

In medicine, to arrest is to control or stop the progress, such as of a disease. The disease isn’t cured but it won’t get any worse if doctors can arrest it. Sometimes arrest is also used in reference to parts of the body stopping, such as cardiac arrest, which means your heart stops beating.

You might also hear about arrested development, which is development that has been stopped before it has been completed. A person with a physical arrested development is someone whose body did not fully grow, or develop, completely.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to arrest?

• arrestable (adjective)
• postarrest (adjective)
• prearrest (verb)
• rearrest (verb)
• unarrestable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for arrest?

• apprehend
• capture
• delay
• imprisonment
• suspension

What are some words that share a root or word element with arrest? 

• rest
• arrestment
• arresting

What are some words that often get used in discussing arrest?

• crime
• suspect
• warrant

How is arrest used in real life?

Arrest is a common word usually used in relation to criminal justice but also used in the sciences.

*jake paul gets arrested*

jake – "the cops and I have mutually decided to arrest me, thank you to all involved!!"

— RyansAverageLife (@RyanAbe) July 23, 2017

BREAKING / NBC News: DOJ announces the arrest of Russian National Mariia Butina, age 29, for "infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation."

She was arrested yesterday.

— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) July 16, 2018

I'll try my best, how much do I invest? like cardiac arrest, high voltage when we kiss.

— michael clifford on tour (@Michael5SOS) January 1, 2016

 

Try using arrest!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for arrest?

A. free
B. capture
C. secure
D. seize