How to pronounce arrest
Say it like uh-REST. Arrest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce arrest. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- REST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Arrest pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RESTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of arrest
American and British speakers say arrest in essentially the same way: /əˈrɛst/ in the US and /əˈrɛst/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-REST.
What does arrest mean?
- take into custody“the police nabbed the suspected criminals”
- hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of“Arrest the downward trend”“Check the growth of communism in South East Asia”
- attract and fix“His look caught her”“She caught his eye”
- the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)“the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar”
- the state of inactivity following an interruption“the negotiations were in arrest”“held them in check”
Where does arrest come from?
From Middle English arest (noun) and aresten (verb), from Old French areste (noun) and arester (“to stay, stop”, verb), from Vulgar Latin *arrestō, from Latin ad- (“to”) + restō (“to stop, remain behind, stay back”), from re- (“back”) + stō
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with arrest
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of arrest.
Questions about saying arrest
How do you pronounce arrest?
Say uh-REST. The American pronunciation is /əˈrɛst/. In British English it is /əˈrɛst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in arrest?
Arrest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REST). Broken into parts: uh · REST.
Do Americans and Brits say arrest the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈrɛst/ and the British form is /əˈrɛst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.