misunderstand

[ mis-uhn-der-stand ]

/ ˌmɪs ʌn dərˈstænd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR misunderstand ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), mis·un·der·stood, mis·un·der·stand·ing.

to take (words, statements, etc.) in a wrong sense; understand wrongly.

to fail to understand or interpret rightly the words or behavior of.

Nearby words

mistrustful, mistrustfully, mistryst, misty, misty-eyed, misunderstand, misunderstanding, misunderstood, misusage, misuse, misuser

Origin of misunderstand

First recorded in 1150–1200, misunderstand is from the Middle English word misunderstanden. See mis-¹, understand

SYNONYMS FOR misunderstand

1 misconstrue, misapprehend, misinterpret.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR misunderstand ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mis·un·der·stand·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for misunderstand

The House Republicans, and, unfortunately, many of my brothers and sisters in the media, misunderstand what is going on here.
What the GOP Doesn’t Understand About the Debt|Daniel Gross|September 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Adam Lankford on how we misunderstand the psychology of suicide bombers.
How Bullying Creates Suicide Bombers|Adam Lankford|December 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But this, dear reader, is to misunderstand the point of the fast.
Today's Lamentations|Aryeh Cohen|July 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
That bill passed because North Dakota lawmakers “misunderstand the role of the FDA in approving drugs,” Kromenaker said.
Abortion Outposts in Arkansas, Dakotas Wary of Mississippi’s Fight|Allison Yarrow|July 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST

“I love these sisters—so determined to dialogue with a Vatican that has continued to misunderstand and accuse them,” she said.
American Nuns Fight Back Against Vatican Crackdown|Abigail Pesta|June 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Now I will not affect to misunderstand the charge conveyed by these words.
Frank's Campaign|Horatio Alger, Jr.
This is the law which women are constantly led to misunderstand in a democracy.
The Cult of Incompetence|Emile Faguet
You have always misunderstood him, I might almost say, chosen to misunderstand him.
The Heir of Redclyffe|Charlotte M. Yonge
And even if you did misunderstand, you might have concentrated on what you were doing for five minutes, don't you think?
The Lightning Conductor Discovers America|C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson and A. M. (Alice Muriel) Williamson
“Faith, it has broken out,” he feebly laughed, pretending to misunderstand.
A Daughter of Raasay|William MacLeod Raine

British Dictionary definitions for misunderstand

misunderstand

/ (ˌmɪsʌndəˈstænd) /

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

to fail to understand properly

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