First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1arrest
verb ar·rest \ə-ˈrest\
: to use the power of the law to take and keep (someone, such as a criminal)
: to stop the progress or movement of (something)
: to attract and hold the attention of (someone or something)
Full Definition of ARREST
transitive verb
1
3
: to catch suddenly and engagingly <arrest attention>
— ar·rest·er also ar·res·tor \-ˈres-tər\ noun
— ar·rest·ment \-ˈres(t)-mənt\ noun
See arrest defined for English-language learners
See arrest defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of ARREST
Middle English aresten, from Anglo-French arester to stop, arrest, from Vulgar Latin *arrestare, from Latin ad- + restare to remain — more at rest
Related to ARREST
Other Legal Terms
Rhymes with ARREST
abreast, abscessed, appressed, armrest, at best, at rest, attest, backrest, beau geste, bed rest, behest, bequest, blood test, congest, conquest, contest, crow's nest, depressed, detest, devest, digest, distressed, divest, egest, eighth rest, field-test, flight-test, footrest, gabfest, half rest, hard-pressed, headrest, high-test, hillcrest, hope chest, houseguest, imprest, incest, infest, ingest, inquest, interest, invest, Key West, lovefest, love nest, Mae West, mare's nest, Midwest, molest, northwest, patch test, posttest, pretest, professed, protest, redbreast, repressed, request, revest, road test, scratch test, screen test, sea chest, skin test, slop chest, slugfest, southwest, spot test, steam chest, stress test, suggest, Trieste, t-test, unblessed, undressed, unrest, unstressed, war chest, whole rest, Wild West
2arrest
noun
: the act of legally taking and keeping someone (such as a criminal) : the act of arresting someone
medical : an occurrence in which a part of the body suddenly stops working
Full Definition of ARREST
1
a : the act of stopping b : the condition of being stopped or inactive — compare cardiac arrest
2
: the taking or detaining in custody by authority of law
— under arrest
: in legal custody
See arrest defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ARREST
14th century
Related to ARREST
- Synonyms
- apprehension, arrestment, bust [slang], collar, pinch
- Antonyms
- discharge
Other Legal Terms
ARREST Defined for Kids
1arrest
verb ar·rest \ə-ˈrest\
ar·rest·edar·rest·ing
Definition of ARREST for Kids
1
: to take or keep control over (someone) by authority of law <She was arrested on suspicion of robbery.>
2
: to stop the progress or movement of : check <arrest a disease>
3
: to attract and hold the attention of <But I was suddenly arrested by a sight that only Grandma and I saw. — Richard Peck, A Year Down Yonder>
2arrest
noun
Definition of ARREST for Kids
: the act of taking or holding a person by authority of law
Learn More About ARREST
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: arrestablePrevious Word in the Dictionary: arrentAll Words Near: arrest
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up arrest? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).