misunderstand

American

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

verb (used with object)

misunderstood, misunderstanding

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

Synonyms:

misinterpret, misapprehend, misconstrue
to fail to understand or interpret rightly the words or behavior of.

misunderstand British

/ ˌmɪsʌndəˈstænd /

verb

to fail to understand properly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One of the most common misunderstandings about tariffs is who pays them.

From MarketWatch

Don’t misunderstand me: That does not mean you should not get married.

From MarketWatch

Gentle parenting has become a contentious topic, but Kelly believes much of this stems from misunderstanding.

From BBC

He’s working on honest communication with his wife to avoid misunderstandings.

From Los Angeles Times

Morgans says investors concerned about AI threats misunderstand what Pro Medicus offers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023