understand
Americanverb (used with object)
-
understands,
present (3rd person singular)
-
understood,
past participle, past
-
understanding
present participle
-
to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend.
to understand Spanish; I didn't understand your question.
-
to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of.
to understand a trade.
-
to assign a meaning to; interpret.
He understood her suggestion as a complaint.
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to grasp the significance, implications, or importance of.
He does not understand responsibility.
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to regard as firmly communicated; take as agreed or settled.
I understand that you will repay this loan in 30 days.
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to learn or hear.
I understand that you are going out of town.
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to accept as true; believe.
I understand that you are trying to be truthful, but you are wrong.
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to construe in a particular way.
You are to understand the phrase literally.
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to supply mentally (something that is not expressed).
verb (used without object)
-
understands,
present (3rd person singular)
-
understood,
past participle, past
-
understanding
present participle
-
to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed.
She told them about it in simple words, hoping they would understand.
-
to accept tolerantly or sympathetically.
If you can't do it, I'll understand.
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to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject.
He understands about boats.
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to have a systematic interpretation or rationale, as in a field or area of knowledge.
He can repeat every rule in the book, but he just doesn't understand.
verb
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(may take a clause as object) to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
I understand you
I understand what you mean
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(may take a clause as object) to realize or grasp (something)
he understands your position
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to assume, infer, or believe
I understand you are thinking of marrying
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(tr) to know how to translate or read
can you understand Spanish?
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(tr; may take a clause as object; often passive) to accept as a condition or proviso
it is understood that children must be kept quiet
-
(tr) to be sympathetic to or compatible with
we understand each other
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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understandsimple
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understandssimple
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have understoodperfect
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has understoodperfect
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am understandingprogressive
-
are understandingprogressive
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is understandingprogressive
-
have been understandingperfect progressive
-
has been understandingperfect progressive
Past
-
understoodsimple
-
had understoodperfect
-
was understandingprogressive
-
were understandingprogressive
-
had been understandingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of understand
First recorded before 900; Middle English understanden, understonden, Old English understondan; cognate with Dutch onderstaan. See under-, stand
Explanation
To understand something is to comprehend or get it. The more we learn, the more we understand. The goal of most education is to help students understand how the world works: history, math, English, music, science, and art are all complicated subjects that you need to practice and think about before you can really understand them. Understanding requires knowledge and thought. Another kind of understanding is like sympathy. For example, you might not approve of stealing, but you could understand why a guy would steal to feed his family.
Vocabulary lists containing understand
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"Kids Like Me: Voices of the Immigrant Experience"
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Foundational Reading
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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.
See Examples For:
Parents must understand “you cannot prevent a concussion,” Moscicki said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
Khanal had earlier told reporters on Saturday that Nepal needed greater research to "understand the changing dynamics of the Himalayan ecosystem" and the risks they pose to the landlocked country, encircled by India and China.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
"We understand that incidents of this nature may cause concern within the community, however we believe this is an isolated incident and that there is no wider risk to the public."
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
"Death is an easy outcome to understand," Creevy said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
“I still don’t understand what the issue is. It’s one of the most prestigious programs around. Why wouldn’t he want you to go?”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
An otherwise chipper cartoonist likened her audience to a “chamber of despair” that nobody else understands.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
“I don’t have a great sense of whether he understands how much the market is craving that kind of information.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Dickson said the company understands the factors dragging on Old Navy’s performance, and is taking steps that are improving results.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
But there is some evidence that the earlier a girl understands herself, the sooner she can design a life that works with her strengths and needs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
I’m so shocked to hear Bubbe say these words; to know that she understands how I feel, who I am.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
However, Juventus are understood to be confident of winning the race for his signature on a loan deal that includes a conditional obligation to buy.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
What to do about it is well understood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
The military has also historically understood something Hegseth apparently does not: Morale does not come from pretending everything is fine.
From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026
“She did something so economically irrational and inexplicable that it would make no sense other than when understood in the context of defendants’ scheme,” the filing stated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
Gingersnipes’s eyes widened as she understood that this was her job now—a fact that seemed to fill her with pride and panic all at once.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
But all summer, the understanding has been that if the club bring in the attacking players they want, they would not stand in the way of Gakpo if a solid offer came in.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Creevy said the latest findings are an early but important step toward understanding the mechanisms that influence aging.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026
Try to approach him from a place of gratitude and mutual understanding, rather than conflict.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
Americans are sold a linear understanding of professional sports.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
“Mutual understanding, leading to amity and good relations.”
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
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.
