apresar
“apresar” means “to capture” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to capture, to arrest
Also: to seize
📝 In Action
La policía logró apresar al fugitivo después de una larga persecución.
B1The police managed to capture the fugitive after a long chase.
Fueron apresados por cruzar la frontera sin documentos.
B2They were arrested for crossing the border without documents.
El pirata fue apresado y llevado ante la justicia.
C1The pirate was captured and brought to justice.
to seize
Also: to impound
📝 In Action
La marina apresó un buque que transportaba mercancía ilegal.
B2The navy seized a ship carrying illegal goods.
El cargamento fue apresado en el puerto.
B2The shipment was seized at the port.
Apresaron el barco enemigo durante la batalla.
C1They seized the enemy ship during the battle.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: apresar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'They arrested the thief'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From 'presa' (prey/catch), which comes from the Latin word 'prensus', the past action form of 'prehendere', meaning 'to seize or grab'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'apresar' the same as 'arrestar'?
They are similar, but 'arrestar' is specifically for legal/police contexts. 'Apresar' is broader and can include capturing enemies in war or even a bird catching its prey.
Does 'apresar' mean to hurry up?
No! That is a common mistake. 'Apresar' is to catch. 'Apresurar' is to hurry. They look similar because they both come from the root word for 'grasping' or 'taking', but their meanings in modern Spanish are very different.
Can I use 'apresar' for animals?
Yes, it is often used in literature or nature documentaries to describe a predator catching its prey (e.g., 'el águila apresó al conejo').