comprehend
Americanverb
-
to perceive or understand
-
(tr) to comprise or embrace; include
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.
College Football Brain is why we still have Zombie Bowl games layered on top of this 12-team playoff, as if anyone actually cares or comprehends why the quarterfinal needs to masquerade as the Cotton Bowl.
“This instrument is from 1741. It’s older than the United States. I can barely comprehend that amount of history.”
From Los Angeles Times
“The question becomes: Do you understand, does your mind comprehend all of the effects of this particular thing you’re going to purchase,” said Love, who is also pastor of the historic Lee Chapel AME Church.
From Seattle Times
“The simplest of our three proofs is easy to comprehend,” he wrote.
From Washington Times
"We are devastated beyond belief and find it hard to comprehend life without him."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
