comprehend

[kom-pri-hend]

verb (used with object)

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

   He did not comprehend the significance of the ambassador's remark.

2. to take in or embrace; include; comprise.

   The course will comprehend all facets of Japanese culture.

comprehend

/ ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnd /

verb

1. to perceive or understand

2. (tr) to comprise or embrace; include

Other Word Forms

• comprehender noun
• comprehendingly adverb
• noncomprehending adjective
• noncomprehendingly adverb
• precomprehend verb (used with object)
• self-comprehending adjective
• uncomprehended adjective
• uncomprehending adjective
• uncomprehendingly adverb
• well-comprehended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprehend¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English comprehenden, from Latin comprehendere, from com- com- + prehendere “to seize” ( prehension )

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprehend¹

C14: from Latin comprehendere, from prehendere to seize

Synonym Study

See include.

Example Sentences

“I think you want a window into people’s lives…who live in extreme worlds that you can’t comprehend.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Jefferies analysts led by Trevor Williams remarked that the magnitude of the earnings miss and guidance cut was “difficult to comprehend” in a research note Wednesday.

Read more on Barron's

Fiserv Inc. slashed its outlook on Wednesday to a degree that one analyst said was “difficult to comprehend.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Fiserv slashed its outlook on Wednesday to a degree that one analyst said was “difficult to comprehend.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Civilians might find the military’s code hard to comprehend.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• appreciate 
• assimilate 
• discern 
• envision 
• fathom 
• grasp 

When To Use

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.