EN

Synonyms for arrest

  • verb
  • noun

Most common

turn back detain seize apprehend attract cease discontinue

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Detain

stop, detain, hold, check, delay, restrain, block, obstruct, hold back, intercept, suspend, keep back, turn back, withhold, hinder, interrupt, contain, halt dated

2. Apprehend

apprehend, seize, capture, nab informal, take, collar, nail, cop informal dated

3. Catch

catch, get

4. Engage

engage, occupy, attract, entice, absorb, engross, enchant, spellbind rare

Other

freeze, cease, discontinue, dazzle

Noun

1. Stoppage

stay, stoppage, hitch

2. Apprehension

apprehension, pinch slang

Other

detention, seizure, obstruction, restraint, pick-up, stunt, prevention, interruption, take-up, hindrance, catching, arrestation rare

Antonyms

rescue

All antonyms of arrest →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To stop or slow (a process, course etc.).

    Knowledge replaced universal resemblance with finite differences. History was arrested and turned into tables …Western reason had entered the age of judgement.

  2. v. 2

    To seize (someone) with the authority of the law; to take into legal custody.

    The police have arrested a suspect in the murder inquiry.

  3. n. 1

    A check; a stop; an act or instance of arresting something.

  4. n. 2

    The condition of being stopped, standstill.

    cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest

Related words

Word family
arrester arresting arrestive arrestation
Phrases
arrest warrant cardiac arrest cardiopulmonary arrest pretextual arrest

Forms

Plural
arrests → stays, stoppages, hitches, apprehensions…
Past participle
arrested
e.g. arrested → stopped, detained, checked, delayed…

Choose the right word

Arrest or Arresting?

The legal term arrest carries always the implication of a legal offense; this is true even of arresting for debt.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • detain Are you coming willingly, or do we have to detain you?
  • seize You have to seize the opportunity with both hands.
  • apprehend Are you coming willingly, or do I have to apprehend you?
  • attract Positive atomic nuclei attract negative electrons.
  • cease Very few countries could cease trading with China.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
arreststeady
detainsteady
seizesteady
apprehendsteady
attractsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
get1, cop1, nab1
4 letters
take1, stop1, stay1, hold1, nail1, halt1
5 letters
check1, block1, catch1, delay2, cease1, stunt1, seize1, pinch1, hitch1
6 letters
engage2, freeze1, collar2, occupy3, absorb2, hinder2, detain2, entice2, dazzle2
7 letters
contain2, capture2, attract2, suspend2, seizure2, enchant2, engross2
8 letters
catching2, restrain2, withhold2, stoppage2, obstruct2
9 letters
detention3, intercept3, interrupt3, restraint2, apprehend3, hindrance2, spellbind
10 letters
prevention3
11 letters
obstruction3, discontinue4, arrestation
12 letters
interruption4, apprehension4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (delay2 = 2 syllables).