comprehend
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to perceive or understand
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(tr) to comprise or embrace; include
Usage
What are other ways to say comprehend? To comprehend something is to grasp it with the mind. How is comprehend different from know and understand? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Synonym Usage
See include.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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self-comprehendingadjective
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comprehendernoun
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uncomprehendedadjective
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noncomprehendinglyadverb
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uncomprehendinglyadverb
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noncomprehendingadjective
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precomprehendverb (used with object)
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comprehendinglyadverb
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well-comprehendedadjective
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uncomprehendingadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have comprehendedperfect
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has comprehendedperfect 3rd person singular
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am comprehendingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been comprehendingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is comprehendingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been comprehendingperfect progressive
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are comprehendingprogressive
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comprehendssingular 3rd person
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comprehendingparticiple
Past
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had comprehendedperfect
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were comprehendingprogressive plural
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had been comprehendingperfect progressive
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was comprehendingprogressive singular
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comprehendedparticiple
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comprehendedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of comprehend
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English comprehenden, from Latin comprehendere, from com- com- + prehendere “to seize” ( see prehension)
Explanation
To comprehend something is to understand it, like when you have to read a difficult passage more than once in order to comprehend it. When you comprehend something, you grasp its meaning. Comprehend is a verb that originates from the Latin word comprehendere, which means “catch or seize.” When an idea is clear to you and you understand it completely, you comprehend it, like doing extra problems to make sure you comprehend a difficult algebra rule, or finding it hard to comprehend why someone would paint his house neon yellow.
Vocabulary lists containing comprehend
Vocabulary of the Common Core
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List 4
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
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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.
Meanwhile, some analysts struggled to comprehend SpaceX’s ballooning valuation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Children were dying, and as the father of two young girls, I couldn’t comprehend why he would turn away from science.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
"It's just struggling to comprehend how on earth this season has panned out in the way it has," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
To fully comprehend the Jacob Misiorowski Experience, just take a look at one of his outings from last week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
He could not comprehend the words “no money,” who all his life had but to reach out his hand and fill it as often as he would.
From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
