Arrest

mediumNeutral tone

uh-REST

verb

Definition

(verb) To stop or check the progress of something; to seize by legal authority

Memory hook

ARREST: on GRE, means to STOP or halt (not just police). The cold arrested plant growth.

See more GRE words with mnemonics.

Word roots

adto(Latin)
restareto stop(Latin)

Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.

Examples

The treatment arrested the spread of the disease.
Nothing could arrest the nation's economic decline.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The treatment ______ the spread of the disease.
Show answer

arrested

Synonyms

haltcheckimpedestall

Antonyms

advancepromoteaccelerateexpedite

Categories

View all Action words

GRE Tip

Arrest is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "halt" or "check" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "advance".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

Related GRE Words

Master arrest and 1,000+ GRE words

Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.