arrest - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
arrest Word Meanings
- to seize someone by legal authority
- to stop or hinder something from continuing
- a cessation of activity or movement
arrest Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
arrest Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/əˈrɛst/
US
/əˈrɛst/
arrest Word Etymology
arrest = ad- (to) + rest (stop) from Latin 'arrestare'. A vivid image to remember is a police officer stopping a fleeing suspect in their tracks, signifying legal action that halts movement.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I grip the steering wheel and feel the car want to move. I push the brake and arrest its forward push, the road quiets as the speed sinks. I shift my stance, adjust my gaze, and keep the line steady as motion settles into stillness. That pause teaches me how to use arrest in everyday life—slow down, decide what comes next, and act with intention.
Real Context
Arrest has two main uses in English. As a verb, it means to seize someone legally by authorities, or to stop or hinder movement or progress, even in a metaphorical sense. As a noun, it refers to the act of arresting someone (a police action) or to a cessation or halt in activity (an arrest of motion or development). The word carries formal, legal connotations when referring to people, whereas the metaphorical sense is common in everyday speech. Learners often mix up the legal and nonlegal senses, or confuse arrest with detain, stop, or hold, especially in phrases like be under arrest or arrest a process.
Usage Reminders
- Use arrest with a direct object: arrest the suspect. Say be under arrest or arrested for a crime. Noun form is an arrest. Distinguish arrest (to stop legally) from detain, stop, or hold. Arrest a process only in a metaphorical sense (arrest development). Common collocations: arrest warrant, arrest record, arrest a suspect, arrest a motion in court. Pronounce with stress on the second syllable: ar-REST.
Common Misconceptions
- Arrest always means detaining someone; it does not always imply a police action.
- Confusing arrest with detener or stop in non-legal contexts.
- Using arrest as a synonym for 'to stop' a process in everyday speech.
- Mistaking the noun arrest for the verb detain in all cases.
- Forgetting the common idiom be under arrest and the passive arrested.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Practice both verb and noun forms: arrest, an arrest.
- Learn common phrasal uses: be under arrest, arrest warrant.
- Compare with detain and stop to avoid false friends.
- Use metaphors carefully: arrest development is fixed, not general.
- Listen for legal contexts (police reports) vs everyday speech.
- Remember the stress pattern arREST.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following situations would you use the word 'arrest'?
A.The chef cooked a delicious meal
B.The teacher praised the student
C.The doctor cured the patient
D.The police stopped the criminal
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is similar to 'arrest'?
A.Detain
B.Release
C.Support
D.Expand
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'arrest'?
A.Prosecute
B.Punish
C.Release
D.Acquit
Step 5: Mastery
In a movie about law enforcement, when would you expect to hear the word 'arrest'?
A.When a suspect is caught by the police
B.When a student receives an award
C.When a chef prepares a dish
D.When a doctor prescribes medicine
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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