comprehend
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
-
to perceive or understand
-
(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
-
comprehendernoun
-
precomprehendverb (used with object)
-
noncomprehendingadjective
-
self-comprehendingadjective
-
uncomprehendedadjective
-
uncomprehendingadjective
-
well-comprehendedadjective
-
comprehendinglyadverb
-
noncomprehendinglyadverb
-
uncomprehendinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
comprehendsimple
-
comprehendssimple
-
have comprehendedperfect
-
has comprehendedperfect
-
am comprehendingprogressive
-
are comprehendingprogressive
-
is comprehendingprogressive
-
have been comprehendingperfect progressive
-
has been comprehendingperfect progressive
Past
-
comprehendedsimple
-
had comprehendedperfect
-
was comprehendingprogressive
-
were comprehendingprogressive
-
had been comprehendingperfect progressive
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
It can also comprehend varying degrees of certainty.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 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,” police wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 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
He couldn’t begin to comprehend, now, how far off the track he was with his baptismal fixation.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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
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
“I don’t think she comprehends the breadth and depth of the suffering she has caused,” a tearful Ruetten said.
From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2024
He comprehends it, being a man full grown, able to oversee the kind of house Zeus would endow with honor.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
I intellectually comprehended this rule, but living through it was another thing entirely.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2025
“I could have never comprehended such a perfect opportunity to align with my goals as an artist and future arts leader and an arts advocate.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2025
He told the inquiry he had been "frustrated" that some government officials had not "comprehended the figures".
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2023
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 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
"The public... has no way of comprehending the artist's work, which raises questions over our whole mission of public service," Ms des Cars said.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2025
Jennifer stared at Deidre as if not quite comprehending what she was saying.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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.
