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Apprehension vs. Comprehension: What's the Difference?

Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Published on October 11, 2023
Apprehension refers to anxiety or fear about a future event, while Comprehension is the understanding or grasping of information or ideas. The two terms, although sounding similar, have different emotional and cognitive implications.

Key Differences

pprehension and Comprehension are two words that may sound somewhat similar but have very different meanings. Apprehension primarily relates to a sense of fear or anxiety about something that has yet to happen. This is an emotional state that often involves nervousness or dread. Comprehension, on the other hand, is a cognitive function that pertains to understanding or grasping a concept, problem, or piece of information. It is an intellectual process that allows individuals to interpret and make sense of their environment.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023
In terms of grammatical usage, both Apprehension and Comprehension are primarily used as nouns. However, they derive from different verbs: "apprehend" and "comprehend," respectively. While "apprehend" can mean to grasp or understand, it is more often associated with seizing or arresting, which aligns with the concept of fear or anxiety. "Comprehend" is more straightforwardly linked to understanding or grasping mentally.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023
Apprehension can manifest in various contexts, such as in social settings or while anticipating negative outcomes. It is a state of emotional turmoil. Comprehension, by contrast, is often gauged in educational or professional settings to measure someone's understanding of a subject or task. It is generally a positive attribute, denoting clarity and awareness.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023
To sum up, Apprehension and Comprehension are two distinct terms with unique implications. Apprehension is an emotional state characterized by fear or anxiety, whereas Comprehension is a cognitive ability related to understanding or grasping a concept. Both are important aspects of human experience, but they serve different functions and are assessed in different ways.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

Comparison Chart

Nature

Emotional
Cognitive
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Oct 11, 2023
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Primary Usage

Noun
Noun
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Oct 11, 2023

Derived Verb

Apprehend
Comprehend
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

Context

Social settings, fear of future events
Educational or professional settings
Harlon Moss
Oct 11, 2023

Positive/Negative

Generally Negative
Generally Positive
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

Apprehension and Comprehension Definitions

Apprehension

Fear or anxiety about a future event.
She felt apprehension about her job interview.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023
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Comprehension

The ability to understand and grasp a concept.
His comprehension of calculus is exceptional.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Apprehension

The act of arresting or capturing.
The police are responsible for the apprehension of criminals.
Sara Rehman
Sep 19, 2023

Comprehension

Intellectual clarity.
She spoke with comprehension about the subject.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Apprehension

A belief or opinion, often unfavorable.
There is general apprehension that prices will rise.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023

Comprehension

Range of understanding.
Her comprehension of languages is impressive.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023
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Apprehension

Cautious dread or unease.
The forest filled her with apprehension.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Comprehension

Inclusion or encompassing.
The law's comprehension is broad.
Harlon Moss
Sep 19, 2023

Apprehension

Understanding or perception.
His apprehension of the problem was immediate.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 19, 2023

Comprehension

The act or fact of grasping the meaning, nature, or importance of; understanding.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

The knowledge that is acquired in this way.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The act of seizing or capturing; arrest.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

Capacity to include; comprehensiveness.
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Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The ability to apprehend or understand; understanding.
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Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

(Logic) The sum of meanings and corresponding implications inherent in a term.
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Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

(rare) The physical act of seizing or taking hold of (something); seizing.
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Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

Thorough understanding.
Students will be tested on their comprehension of sentences in the foreign language.
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Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

(legal) The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

(logic) The totality of intensions, that is, attributes, characters, marks, properties, or qualities, that the object possesses, or else the totality of intensions that are pertinent to the context of a given discussion.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Perception; the act of understanding using one's intellect without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

(programming) A compact syntax for generating a list in some functional programming languages.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

(Christianity) The inclusion of nonconformists within the Church of England.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The faculty by which ideas are conceived or by which perceptions are grasped; understanding.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion.
In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Anticipation, especially of unfavorable things such as dread or fear or the prospect of something unpleasant in the future.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome.
Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of them.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the hand is an organ of apprehension.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception; understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract principles.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest; as, the felon, after his apprehension, escaped.
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Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The act of grasping with the intellect; the contemplation of things, without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment; intellection; perception.
Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's naked intellection of an object.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea.
To false, and to be thought false, is all one in respect of men, who act not according to truth, but apprehension.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

An ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result);
How you can do that is beyond my comprehension
He was famous for his comprehension of American literature
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The faculty by which ideas are conceived; understanding; as, a man of dull apprehension.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

The relation of comprising something;
He admired the inclusion of so many ideas in such a short work
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Anticipation, mostly of things unfavorable; distrust or fear at the prospect of future evil.
After the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was in no small apprehension for his own life.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Comprehension

The act of comprising or containing.
The comprehension of this book is vast.
Sara Rehman
Sep 19, 2023

Apprehension

Fearful expectation or anticipation;
The student looked around the examination room with apprehension
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The cognitive condition of someone who understands;
He has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

Painful expectation
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

Apprehension

The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal);
The policeman on the beat got credit for the collar
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 17, 2023

FAQs

Is Comprehension a positive trait?

Generally, yes, as it denotes understanding.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

What is Comprehension?

Comprehension is the cognitive ability to understand or grasp information.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

How do Apprehension and Comprehension differ?

Apprehension is emotional, while Comprehension is cognitive.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

What's the verb form of Apprehension?

The verb form is "apprehend."
Janet White
Oct 11, 2023

What's the verb form of Comprehension?

The verb form is "comprehend."
Aimie Carlson
Oct 11, 2023

Where is Apprehension commonly experienced?

In social settings or before anticipated events.
Harlon Moss
Oct 11, 2023

Can Apprehension be useful?

In some cases, it can heighten alertness.
Harlon Moss
Oct 11, 2023

What is Apprehension?

Apprehension is the emotional state of anxiety or fear about a future event.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

Is Apprehension always negative?

Generally, yes, as it involves fear or anxiety.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023

Where is Comprehension often assessed?

In educational and professional settings.
Janet White
Oct 11, 2023

Is Apprehension related to instinct?

It can be, as it's a basic emotional response.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 11, 2023

Is Comprehension measurable?

Yes, often through tests and assessments.
Sara Rehman
Oct 11, 2023

Can Apprehension affect Comprehension?

Yes, anxiety can impair understanding.
Harlon Moss
Oct 11, 2023

Can Comprehension reduce Apprehension?

Yes, understanding can alleviate fear.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 11, 2023

Is Comprehension linked to intelligence?

It can be, as it's a cognitive function.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 11, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma Saeed
Huma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.

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