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Synonyms

comprehend

American  
[kom-pri-hend] / ˌkɒm prɪˈhɛnd /

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 British  
/ ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnd /

verb

  1. to perceive or understand

  2. (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.

Related Words

See 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

Etymology

Origin of comprehend

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

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.

Prasad is still struggling to comprehend the forces that stole his family.

From The Wall Street Journal

The exciting and the scary part of artificial intelligence is there are things the human brain will not be able to comprehend.

From Los Angeles Times

"Over those years it was just too intense, too fierce, and things happened which even today I cannot comprehend why he has done them," Wolff said.

From BBC

"I am still trying to comprehend a world where my twin no longer exists," she said in her statement.

From BBC

The point Currie was making was that markets seem not to comprehend the logistical difficulties involved in moving different types of oil around, and the disruption it causes.

From MarketWatch

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.