misunderstand
[ mis-uhn-der-stand ]
/ ˌmɪs ʌn dərˈstænd /
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.
QUIZZES
TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!
Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!
Question 1 of 10
Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.
Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of misunderstand
First recorded in 1150–1200, misunderstand is from the Middle English word misunderstanden. See mis-1, understand
SYNONYMS FOR misunderstand
OTHER WORDS FROM misunderstand
mis·un·der·stand·er, nounWords nearby misunderstand
mistrust, mistrustful, mistryst, misty, misty-eyed, misunderstand, misunderstanding, misunderstood, misusage, misuse, misuser
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for misunderstand
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
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