sense of apprehension

USAGE SUMMARY

"sense of apprehension" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of unease or fearfulness about something that might happen in the future. For example, "I had a sense of apprehension as I approached the exam hall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"It's that sense of apprehension, not knowing what's going to come next.

The Guardian

So even as they jogged into the locker room with a nearly insurmountable lead, there was a sense of apprehension.

The New York Times - Sports

Ordinarily representative and reflective of reality, music here becomes a conduit to a more primitive sense of apprehension.

The New York Times - Arts

Amid the appreciation for the attention the world is paying their country is a quietly growing sense of apprehension.

The New Yorker

There was a sense of apprehension in "Open Air Corners," a solo choreographed by Lionel Popkin in collaboration with Carolyn Hall and performed by Ms. Hall.

The New York Times - Arts

Still, one senior government official involved in intelligence issues described a sense of apprehension about what he believed would be a long, awkward lull ahead.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Even here, though, I sense flickers of apprehension in the way the characters are framed — gestures toward an intensity that outgleams their domestic plight, as if Lean were already aware that the writer's brand of passion was not enough.

The New Yorker

Joan Didion, whose novels and essays have always contained an underlying sense of dread, said that perhaps there would be "a different level of apprehension" in her work.

The New York Times - Books

I could sense the return of apprehension and uncertainty.

Huffington Post

Financial TV channel Bloomberg just went to their Athens correspondent, who declared that: "There really is a sense of fear and apprehension here, even bordering on panic".

The Guardian - Business

But with expectations growing that Syria's uprising may prove the most intractable and potentially the bloodiest of all the Arab revolts that began in December 2010 in Tunisia, often heard was a sense of unease and apprehension over what awaited.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sense of apprehension" when you want to express a feeling of unease or anxiety about a future event or situation. It is particularly effective when the source of the anxiety is not clearly defined.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of apprehension" when describing fear related to a specific, known threat. Instead, use more direct terms like "fear", "worry", or "anxiety" to clearly convey the specific cause of the feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of apprehension" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a state of mind characterized by a feeling of anxiety or unease about something that may happen in the future, as validated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sense of apprehension" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a feeling of unease or anxiety about future events, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is a noun phrase functioning to express a subjective emotional state, often in contexts where a specific threat isn't clearly identified. Predominantly featured in news and media, its register is neutral, making it versatile for both formal and informal communication. When aiming to convey a vague but palpable feeling of approaching trouble, "sense of apprehension" is an effective and widely understood choice. Alternatives like "feeling of unease" or "sense of foreboding" can provide nuanced variations, depending on the specific emotional tone you wish to create.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling of unease

Focuses on the discomfort and lack of peace rather than a specific fear.

feeling of anxiety

Highlights the worry and nervousness associated with the situation.

sense of foreboding

Emphasizes the feeling that something bad is going to happen.

feeling of dread

Stresses a strong fear or terror of something in the future.

uneasy feeling

A more general term for discomfort or worry.

impending doom

Focuses on the inevitable and negative outcome.

growing concern

Indicates a worry that is increasing over time.

rising anxiety

Similar to growing concern, but specifically related to anxiety.

premonition of trouble

Suggests an intuition or feeling that something bad is about to occur.

inkling of worry

Implies a slight or vague feeling of concern.

FAQs

How can I use "sense of apprehension" in a sentence?

You can use "sense of apprehension" to describe a feeling of unease or anxiety about something that might happen. For example, "I felt a sense of apprehension before the job interview."

What phrases are similar to "sense of apprehension"?

Similar phrases include "feeling of unease", "feeling of anxiety", and "sense of foreboding".

Is "sense of apprehension" a formal or informal expression?

"Sense of apprehension" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used in news articles, literature, and everyday conversation.

How does "sense of apprehension" differ from "fear"?

"Sense of apprehension" implies a vague feeling of unease about something that might happen, while "fear" usually refers to a more specific and intense emotional response to a known threat or danger.