Make Your Point, Jr. > Words in ABC Order > apprehensive

Study the word APPREHENSIVE: (Source) When you feel apprehensive about something, you feel scared or worried or nervous, because you're thinking about all the bad, painful, or dangerous things that could happen. As a kid, I was apprehensive about jumping off the diving board. What if I slipped? What if I hit my head on the board? What if I forgot to hold my breath and I drowned? When you have a lot of "what ifs?" in your head, you're feeling apprehensive. (Source) The word "apprehensive" comes from a Latin one meaning "to take, or to grab onto." To apprehend something is to grab it with your mind, or to understand it, and so if you're apprehensive, it's as if your mind has grabbed onto all the worries, all the fears, or all the possible ways that things could go wrong. Apprehension is a stressful, uncomfortable feeling. And it can be difficult to let go of your apprehension. (Source) Typically, we feel apprehensive about things that might happen soon. For example, in the gif below, David feels apprehensive about his new relationship. He's not sure that they should already be moving in together, and he's worried and nervous that things will go badly in the relationship—that he might get his heart broken. (Source) "Apprehensive" is a serious, formal word. Most of the time, we say that we're "scared," or "worried," or "nervous," or "stressed," or "concerned." But... when we need to sound very grown-up, or very businesslike, or very emphatic, then we say we're "apprehensive" about things.   Make a flash card: You can write your own definition and choose your own picture, or copy mine. Term Definition Picture apprehensive tense or afraid, and alert to all the bad things that could happen   Write your own sentence! You can use either of the two ideas I'll suggest, or you can invent your own. Include as much detail as you can! (Source)   Write a sentence with the word APPREHENSIVE: Remember: when you're apprehensive about something, or apprehensive of something, it means you feel scared and nervous, because you're thinking about all the ways that things could go badly. Idea 1: "I felt apprehensive the night before I (did something important, scary, or new); I worried that (something bad would happen)." Idea 2: "When I asked (someone) if (he or she) wanted to (do something new, scary, exciting, or crazy), (he or she) gave me an apprehensive look." You can type in here. When you're done, copy and paste your sentence wherever you'd like it to go.