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.

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.

From the perspective of an advanced, rule-of-law economy, Kazin’s account of the difficulties his team faced daily can seem almost impossible to comprehend.

From MarketWatch

Joanne, who had planned a weekend trip to London with Sarah in February, said she "could not comprehend" what the family was going through.

From BBC

Jesse Plemons, in his thoughtful baritone, admits, “In hindsight, I think she kept me off-balance for the majority of the shoot in a way that I don’t think I could comprehend in the moment.”

From Los Angeles Times

In a sense, today feels like the day former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez died in 2013, with people struggling to comprehend what has happened.

From BBC

Shane doesn’t comprehend exactly what he’s saying, but he listens, eyes closed.

From Salon

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