misunderstand

[mis-uhn-der-stand]

verb (used with object)

misunderstood, misunderstanding 

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

   Synonyms: misinterpret, misapprehend, misconstrue

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

misunderstand

/ ˌmɪsʌndəˈstænd /

verb

1. to fail to understand properly

Other Word Forms

• misunderstander noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of misunderstand¹

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

Example Sentences

In a statement to Barron’s, a Google spokesperson said that “these lawsuits fundamentally misunderstand how YouTube works and the allegations are simply not true.”

Read more on Barron's

Organizers quickly realized it was a misunderstanding—one game had entailed throwing water balloons at an inflatable doll in a test of accuracy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr Neal said he had tried to engage with the government to address any misunderstandings or concerns.

Read more on BBC

However, he became disillusioned when his friend became more and more tyrannical, and after a misunderstanding shoots and kills the Hatter.

Read more on Salon

Evelyn, as the only Deaf artist who has won Grammys, how does the music industry misunderstand what deafness is, as far as what it means for a relationship to music?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• confuse 
• miscalculate 
• misconstrue 
• misinterpret 
• misjudge 
• misread