became apprehensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became apprehensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a change in someone's feelings or state of mind, indicating that they started to feel anxious or uneasy about something. Example: "As the deadline approached, she became apprehensive about completing the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

This time, Nini became apprehensive.

The New York Times

Having seen Meerkat sign up over 100,000 users since going live in late February, Twitter suddenly became apprehensive.

The Economist

Unfortunately, on the evening of Sept. 10h Hindman became apprehensive that he was about to be attacked by unseen federals at his rear.

The New York Times

In any event, Sandra Guegel became apprehensive late last week when she was called out of her English class at Banning High School in Wilmington, Calif.

The New York Times - Sports

There were too many tweets to read their whole timelines, so they became apprehensive about injecting more.

TechCrunch

4 And since help came to the Syracusans from the Siceli, Selinuntians, and Geloans, as well as from the Himeraeans and Camarinaeans, the Syracusans were the more emboldened, but the Athenians became apprehensive.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Individuals become apprehensive when made to work on their own using the ICT.

Government Information Quarterly

Shoppers become apprehensive if they think even one company is changing the rules.

The New York Times - Tech

Krone knew she had become apprehensive on the racetrack, a result of her many accidents.

The New York Times - Sports

I've traveled so many places in the last two decades that every time I board a new airline, I become apprehensive.

The New York Times

It is an often overlooked truism that whenever an individual is placed in a strange situation, he becomes apprehensive.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character's emotional state, use "became apprehensive" to clearly indicate a transition from a neutral or positive state to one of mild anxiety or unease. This is especially effective in narrative writing to build suspense or foreshadow potential conflict.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "became apprehensive" can sound repetitive if used excessively. Vary your vocabulary with alternatives like "grew anxious", "started to worry", or "felt uneasy" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became apprehensive" functions as a linking verb phrase, connecting the subject to a predicate adjective that describes a state of feeling uneasy or anxious. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "became apprehensive" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression signifying a shift towards feelings of unease or anxiety. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use, spanning neutral to slightly formal contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to diversify vocabulary by using alternatives like "grew anxious" or "started to worry" to prevent repetition. Remember that "apprehensive" suggests a relatively mild level of anxiety, so choose more intense synonyms if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt anxious

Focuses on the subjective feeling of anxiety.

grew anxious

Focuses on increasing anxiety, similar intensity.

became uneasy

Emphasizes a lack of comfort or ease.

started to worry

Indicates the beginning of worry, slightly less formal.

got nervous

Indicates a less intense and more informal state of anxiety.

became concerned

Implies a level of care and worry.

grew fearful

Focuses on fear, a stronger emotion than apprehension.

turned wary

Highlights caution and suspicion.

developed misgivings

Indicates a growing sense of doubt or unease.

lost confidence

Suggests a decline in self-assurance leading to apprehension.

FAQs

How can I use "became apprehensive" in a sentence?

You can use "became apprehensive" to describe someone's emotional state transitioning to anxiety or unease. For instance: "As the storm clouds gathered, she "became apprehensive" about the journey ahead."

What are some alternatives to "became apprehensive"?

Alternatives include "grew anxious", "started to worry", or "felt uneasy". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "became anxious" or "became apprehensive"?

"Became anxious" and "became apprehensive" are quite similar. "Anxious" often implies a more pronounced state of worry than "apprehensive", but they are often interchangeable depending on the context.

What does it mean to say someone "became apprehensive"?

To say someone "became apprehensive" means they started to feel anxious, uneasy, or worried about something. It signifies a shift in their emotional state towards a more cautious or fearful outlook.