verb
arrest
uh-REHST
verb
1
To take someone into custody under legal authority, typically on suspicion of a crime.
"Police arrested the suspect outside his apartment."
"She was arrested for shoplifting."
2
To stop or slow down a process or movement.
"Doctors managed to arrest the spread of the infection."
noun
1
The act of taking someone into legal custody.
"The arrest was caught on the officer's body camera."
How to Use Arrest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take someone into police custody, or more generally, to stop something in its tracks.
Common pairings
under arrest
make an arrest
arrest the suspect
arrest development
Word Forms
arrested past tense, arrests plural, arrests singular
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Police _____ the suspect outside his apartment.
Etymology
From Old French arester ("to stay, stop"), from Latin ad- ("to") plus restare ("to remain, stay behind").