they apprehended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they apprehended" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to someone being caught or arrested, often in a legal or formal context. Example: "The police apprehended the suspect after a lengthy chase." Alternative expressions include "they captured" and "they arrested."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"How did they pick the people they apprehended?

The New York Times

They apprehended immigrants at their homes, at their jobs, on the street.

The New Yorker

The man they apprehended had a muscular build and a long face.

The New York Times - Magazine

The police said they apprehended three of the men and the security guards stopped the fourth.

The New York Times

"I'm glad they apprehended him," said Tony Jean, 27, who has lived on East 83rd Street for three years.

The New York Times

They could not take the risk of allowing a conspiracy to run its course before they apprehended the suspects.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Do they apprehend thousands of migrants, creating a humanitarian crisis — not to mention a public relations one?

The New York Times

Their mission is to make sure that they apprehend the individual; they do so safely with minimum risk to American lives.

The New York Times

Law enforcement agencies are not good at making subtle judgments about the effects of their actions on the people they apprehend.

The Economist

Among other things, Homeland Security officers are required to take any unaccompanied minor they apprehend to a juvenile facility, usually within 24 hours.

The New York Times

"Our role is to try and get the police to an incident as quickly as possible and make sure they apprehend the perp or address the problem," said Simcha Bernath, the shomrim's coordinator.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this phrase for contexts involving the physical capture of individuals, suspects or fugitives.

Common error

Avoid using "apprehended" when you mean "comprehended". While both share a root related to 'taking hold', "apprehended" refers to a physical arrest or a sense of dread, whereas "comprehended" refers to intellectual understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they apprehended" functions as a simple past tense subject-verb construction. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to narrate a completed action involving the capture of a person or suspect. It often acts as the main clause in a sentence describing police operations or historical events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science & Academia

10%

Wiki & General

5%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Fiction & Creative Writing

2%

Business Correspondence

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they apprehended" is a robust and grammatically correct way to describe the capture of a suspect or individual. According to Ludwig, it is most frequently found in journalistic contexts, particularly in reports concerning crime, immigration and security. While it is synonymous with "they arrested", it carries a stronger descriptive weight regarding the act of capture itself. When writing, ensure you are using it to describe a physical taking into custody rather than a mental understanding. Its consistent presence in outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian confirms its status as a reliable professional standard.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they arrested

Refers specifically to the legal act of taking someone into custody

they took into custody

A more formal and bureaucratic way to describe the arrest process

they captured

Emphasizes the act of catching someone who was fleeing or hiding

they detained

Suggests a temporary or initial hold, which may not yet be a formal arrest

they caught

A less formal, more everyday version of the phrase

they rounded up

Implies the capture of a group of people rather than an individual

they seized

Often used for objects or vessels but can apply to people in military contexts

they intercepted

Suggests stopping someone while they were in the middle of an action or transit

they picked up

Colloquial law enforcement jargon for an arrest or questioning

they secured

Focuses on the result of the operation and the safety of the capture

FAQs

What is the difference between "they apprehended" and "they arrested"?

While often used interchangeably in news, "they apprehended" focuses on the act of catching or taking hold of a person, whereas "they arrested" specifically denotes the legal procedure of taking someone into custody.

Is "they apprehended" a formal phrase?

Yes, it is considered neutral to formal and is a staple in journalism and legal reports. For a more informal setting, you might use "they caught".

Can "they apprehended" be used for objects?

Typically, no. Humans or animals are apprehended. For ships or illegal goods, "they seized" or "they intercepted" are better choices.

What can I say instead of "they apprehended"?

Depending on your context, you can use "they captured" if there was a chase or "they detained" if the person is being held for questioning.