Synonyms

comprehend

American

[kom-pri-hend] / ˌkɒm prɪˈhɛnd /

verb (used with object)

to understand the nature or meaning of; grasp with the mind; perceive.

He did not comprehend the significance of the ambassador's remark.
to take in or embrace; include; comprise.

The course will comprehend all facets of Japanese culture.

comprehend British

/ ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnd /

verb

to perceive or understand
(tr) to comprise or embrace; include

"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

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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.

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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.

See Examples For:

comprehend comprehends comprehended comprehending

Zidan said he still struggled to comprehend what had happened in the village.

From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026

He added he would "never be able to comprehend" why Baroness Lawrence had decided to "turn on" the Daily Mail, which campaigned on the Lawrence family's behalf.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

For England, leaving out those sorts of players is especially hard to comprehend because, for so long, the country didn’t have any.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

“The loss of so many young lives is difficult to comprehend, and our hearts go out to the victims’ families, friends, classmates, loved ones, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Vivienne shrugs, and I am reminded of how, despite her being my sister, we differ in ways that are hard to comprehend.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

College Football Brain is why we still have Zombie Bowl games layered on top of this 12-team playoff, as if anyone actually cares or comprehends why the quarterfinal needs to masquerade as the Cotton Bowl.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025

Knox comprehends how knotty the process of reconciling with an ending that differs from what we want can be.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2025

Lewis came up with an approach and strategy that showed that she, at least, is an American who now comprehends the true dynamics that yield success in these matches.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2024

They communicate verbally and also, often in games, only with a nod or a look that the other instantly comprehends.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2024

But also he would have understood the other part, which I don’t think even Mercer comprehends.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

The standings spoke for themselves, but the Angels’ management wanted you to know they had comprehended the lesson.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2025

“I don't think we really comprehended that at the time.”

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2024

But then you haven’t comprehended the significance of either the zoo or the lion.

From Slate ● Dec. 24, 2022

I am generally aware of trends, but had not comprehended that a toy for babies, a demographic I think of as rather static, would go out of style.

From New York Times ● Dec. 23, 2022

The old man blinked for a moment and then comprehended, and cackled with laughter.

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck

And once comprehending, shall he go with the flow?

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2026

Yet as commander in chief, wisely comprehending that no war to save the Union could be waged, much less won, exclusively by Republicans, Lincoln sought out Democrats to help battle secession.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

The resulting data will certainly be of value for comprehending and conserving modern-day biodiversity.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2025

The trick to figuring out the truth is accepting nothing at face value and comprehending that what we imagined for ourselves may not be preferable to what’s right in front of us.

From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2025

I stared, at first not comprehending at all.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

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