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understand
[ uhn-der-stand ]
/ ˌʌn dərˈstænd /
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM understand
pre·un·der·stand, verb, pre·un·der·stood, pre·un·der·stand·ing.Words nearby understand
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, adverbWord 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.