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misunderstand

[ mis-uhn-der-stand ]
/ ˌmɪs ʌn dərˈstænd /
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See synonyms for: misunderstand / misunderstanding / misunderstood 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.
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Origin of misunderstand

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

OTHER WORDS FROM misunderstand

mis·un·der·stand·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use misunderstand in a sentence

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
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