WordGarden.ioarrest
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ərˈɛst/
US
- /ərˈɛst/
Meanings
Noun
the act of taking someone into police custody
a sudden stopping of the heart or another vital bodily function
Verb
to seize someone by legal authority and take them into custody
to stop, slow, or hold back something such as a process or development
Beyond the definition
To arrest someone isn't just to stop them; it is to take them into custody, usually because they are suspected of committing a crime. Think of a police chase ending with the suspect being arrested—that means they've been legally detained and will face questioning. However, "arrest" can also mean stopping something in its tracks or preventing it from progressing, as in "The safety net arrested his fall." It is a word that carries weight: while it often implies legal consequences, a compelling story might also arrest your attention, meaning it completely captures it.
"Arrest" is a powerful word with two main meanings: to take someone into custody on suspicion of a crime, and to halt or impede the progress of something.
In a criminal justice context, an arrest means a law enforcement officer legally detains a person on sufficient legal grounds (often probable cause—a reasonable belief that they have committed a crime). This can lead to questioning, booking, and potentially charges being filed. You might read headlines like "Police Arrest Suspect in Bank Robbery" or see it depicted dramatically in police procedurals.
However, "arrest" also has a broader meaning: to stop something from continuing or progressing. For example, "The quick-thinking lifeguard arrested the child's descent toward deep water" means they stopped the child from sinking. This is also found in the medical term "cardiac arrest," which literally refers to the heart stopping. Figuratively, one might say, "The captivating performance arrested the audience's attention," meaning it completely held their focus.
Historically, "arrest" comes from Old French, meaning "to stay or restrain." This sense of stopping is at the heart of both meanings—whether it's a person suspected of wrongdoing or a process that needs to be halted. So, whether it involves handcuffs clicking shut or a story holding you spellbound, "arrest" signifies a pause, a detention, or a forceful halt to movement.
Examples
- 1
Police action
Police arrested two men after the robbery.
- 2
Traffic offense
She was arrested for drunk driving.
- 3
Legal suspicion
He was arrested on suspicion of fraud.
- Patternon suspicion of + crime
because the police think someone may have done it, but it has not been proved
- 4
Police statement
"You are under arrest," the officer said.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Legal status
The judge placed him under house arrest until the trial.
- Phrasehouse arrest
being forced by law to stay at home
- 6
Medical emergency
The patient died after going into cardiac arrest.
- Domaincardiac arrest
when the heart suddenly stops beating
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- arrestnounverb
Forms
- arrestedpast tenseverbnoun
- arrestspluralnounverb
- arresting-ing formverbnoun