misunderstand

American  

[mis-uhn-der-stand] / ˌmɪs ʌn dərˈstænd /

verb (used with object)

misunderstood, misunderstanding

1. to take (words, statements, etc.) in a wrong sense; understand wrongly.

   Synonyms:

   misinterpret , misapprehend , misconstrue

2. to fail to understand or interpret rightly the words or behavior of.

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misunderstand British  

/ ˌmɪsʌndəˈstænd /

verb

1. to fail to understand properly

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Other Word Forms

• misunderstander noun

Etymology

Origin of misunderstand

First recorded in 1150–1200, misunderstand is from the Middle English word misunderstanden. See mis- ¹, understand

Example Sentences

He followed it with a succession of intensely theatrical divertissements, often revolving around unexpected intellectual conceits or bizarre juxtapositions and featuring brilliant dialogue, puns, repartee, double meanings and misunderstandings.

From BBC

As Mr. Gennari reminds us, “this was vitally important cultural work at a time when jazz was still an object of widespread derision, devaluation, and misunderstanding.”

From The Wall Street Journal

By regularly communicating how involved you plan to be in the party, you can hopefully avoid misunderstandings.

From MarketWatch

“Public misunderstanding of these losses could complicate communication and erode support for the Fed’s independence,” wrote Asher Rose, a former research analyst at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, this summer.

From Barron's

Although a heavily-adapted vehicle like Maxwell's will not be subject to the new VAT charge on an upfront fee, he says phrases like "generous taxpayer subsidies" contribute to people misunderstanding how the scheme works.

From BBC

Related Words

• confuse
• miscalculate
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge
• misread