arrest
verb (transitive)
UK/əˈrɛst/US/əˈrɛst/
To stop the progress or development of something.
Example Sentences
The sudden rain arrested their outdoor activities.
Economic sanctions were imposed to arrest the country's growth.
Her emotional outburst arrested the flow of the conversation.
The intervention arrested the spread of the disease.
Technological advancements can both arrest and accelerate industry changes.
Immediate action is needed to arrest the decline in biodiversity.
The new regulations aim to arrest the misuse of resources.
The company implemented measures to arrest the loss of key employees.
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noun (countable)
UK/əˈrɛst/US/əˈrɛst/
A stop or check in progress.
Example Sentences
There was an arrest in the flow of traffic due to the accident.
The unexpected arrest in the negotiations led to a temporary halt in talks.
A sudden arrest in production caused delays in the project timeline.
The speaker's abrupt arrest left the audience confused.
They experienced an arrest in the development process, requiring reassessment.
An arrest in the storyline made the movie more intriguing.
The software encountered an arrest, forcing users to restart their devices.
She felt an arrest in her creativity after the stressful period.
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How to Use
To seize or stop, often by legal authority or abrupt interruption.“Arrest” typically describes the action of legally detaining a person by law enforcement on suspicion of a crime. Police officers arrest suspects following procedures like reading them their rights (in certain jurisdictions) and bringing them into custody. Once arrested, the person’s freedom is restricted pending further investigation or charges. Beyond the legal sense, “arrest” can also refer to stopping or interrupting something suddenly—e.g., “The medication is meant to arrest the spread of infection.” When discussing the formal process, clarify who has the authority to arrest (e.g., police or other designated officials) and under what circumstances (probable cause, warrant, etc.). In everyday conversation, if something “arrests your attention,” it means it seizes your focus abruptly. In a broader sense, if a plan or process is “arrested,” it’s been stalled or halted abruptly. Across contexts, the key notion is putting a sudden or purposeful stop to someone’s movement or something’s progression.
Alternatives
Depending on context, synonyms or related phrases may vary. In law enforcement contexts, “apprehend” focuses on taking a suspect into custody. “Detain” also signals holding someone, though it can be more temporary or less formal. If you want a softer term, “hold” or “take into custody” might suit, though they don’t always imply formal arrest. In non-legal contexts, “stop,” “halt,” or “interrupt” capture the idea of arresting progress or attention. Choose based on whether you want the sense of legal authority, abruptness, or a general ‘stoppage.’
Writing
In legal or formal writing, clarify how and why the arrest occurs—“Officers arrested the suspect on probable cause,” or “An arrest warrant was issued after new evidence surfaced.” If describing a scenario, mention the relevant rights, laws, or procedures involved (like reading the Miranda rights in the U.S.). If using “arrest” figuratively in an essay—say, “The new policy aims to arrest further decline in test scores”—ensure context signals that you mean ‘stop’ or ‘prevent’ rather than ‘detain.’ Providing clarity on the cause and effect (why something was halted or who was detained) ensures readers follow the purpose behind the arrest.In historical or journalistic pieces, elaborate on the grounds for arrest, the authority performing it, and any subsequent legal process. In creative or narrative writing, an arrest scene may convey tension or pivotal story shifts—like capturing a character’s shock or relief. If you’re referencing progress being arrested, show how an initiative or motion got stuck at a certain point, emphasizing the abruptness or severity of the halt.
Casual Conversation
Day-to-day conversation might reference arrests in news stories or personal anecdotes—e.g., “Did you hear they arrested that hacker?” For personal experiences, someone might recall seeing an arrest happen or hearing about it from friends. If using “arrest” figuratively, you might say, “That ad was so striking it arrested my attention,” meaning it grabbed focus unexpectedly. People also use “under arrest” informally in jokes—like telling a child, “You’re under arrest for not cleaning your room!”—although they’re obviously not formal arrests. In general, unless you’re actually discussing legal matters, “arrest” in casual chat often shifts toward these playful or metaphorical angles (“the medication arrested the cough” or “the painting’s colors arrested my eyes”). Despite the broad usage, the underlying idea remains the same: a forceful or definitive stop to something.
Etymology
“Arrest” derives from the Old French “arester,” meaning “to stop or stay,” which, in turn, arose from the Latin “ad-” (to) plus “restare” (to remain). Initially, it suggested stopping movement or halting progress. Over time, especially in legal contexts, “arrest” crystallized to signify forcibly detaining a person, linking the idea of ‘holding them in place’ with formal authority. This dual meaning—physically stopping someone and suspending movement—persists in modern usage, whether describing a police action or the halting of a process or progression.
