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understand

[ uhn-der-stand ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈstænd /
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See synonyms for: understand / understanding / understood on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.
verb (used without object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.
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Origin of understand

First recorded before 900; Middle English understanden, understonden, Old English understondan; cognate with Dutch onderstaan. See under-, stand

OTHER WORDS FROM understand

pre·un·der·stand, verb, pre·un·der·stood, pre·un·der·stand·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say understand?

To understand something is to be thoroughly familiar with it, or to apprehend clearly its character, nature, or subtleties. How is understand different from know and comprehend? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use understand in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for understand

understand
/ (ˌʌndəˈstænd) /

verb -stands, -standing or -stood
(may take a clause as object) to know and comprehend the nature or meaning ofI understand you; I understand what you mean
(may take a clause as object) to realize or grasp (something)he understands your position
(tr; may take a clause as object) to assume, infer, or believeI understand you are thinking of marrying
(tr) to know how to translate or readcan you understand Spanish?
(tr; may take a clause as object; often passive) to accept as a condition or provisoit is understood that children must be kept quiet
(tr) to be sympathetic to or compatible withwe understand each other

Derived forms of understand

understandable, adjectiveunderstandably, adverb

Word Origin for understand

Old English understandan; related to Old Frisian understonda, Middle High German understān step under; see under, stand
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

Other Idioms and Phrases with understand

understand

see give to understand.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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