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Definition of arrest verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    arrest

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//əˈrɛst//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they arrest
     
    he / she / it arrests
     
    past simple arrested
     
    -ing form arresting
     
     
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  1. 1[transitive, often passive] if the police arrest someone, the person is taken to a police station and kept there because the police believe they may be guilty of a crime arrest somebody A man has been arrested in connection with the robbery. arrest somebody for something She was arrested for drug-related offenses. arrest somebody for doing something You could get arrested for doing that. Topic CollocationsCriminal Justicebreaking the law
    • break/violate/obey/uphold the law
    • be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
    • be arrested/indicted/convicted on felony charges/on charges of rape/fraud
    • be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
    • be accused of/be charged with murder/homicide/four counts of fraud
    • face two charges of assault and battery
    • admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
    • deny the allegations/claims/charges
    • confess to a crime
    • be granted/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
    the legal process
    • stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
    • take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
    • face/avoid/escape prosecution
    • seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
    • hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
    • sit on/influence/persuade/convince/advise a jury
    • stand/appear/be brought before a judge
    • plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
    • be called to/take/put somebody on the stand/the witness stand
    • call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
    • give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
    • raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
    • reach a unanimous/majority verdict
    • return/deliver/record a verdict of guilty/not guilty
    • convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
    • secure a conviction/your acquittal
    • lodge/file an appeal
    • appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
    sentencing and punishment
    • sentence somebody to 5 years in prison/2 years' probation
    • carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
    • receive/be given the death penalty
    • be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
    • carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3,000)/a penalty (of 14 years' imprisonment)
    • be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
    • do/serve time/ten years
    • be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
    • be/put somebody/spend 13 years on death row
    • be granted/be denied/violate (your) parole
    • ⇨ more collocations at crime
  2. 2[transitive] arrest something (formal) to stop a process or a development They failed to arrest the company's decline.
  3. 3[transitive] arrest something (formal) to make someone notice something and pay attention to it An unusual noise arrested his attention.
See arrest in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary