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View synonyms for understand

understand

[ uhn-der-stand ]

verb (used with object)

, un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.
  1. to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend:

    to understand Spanish; I didn't understand your question.

  2. to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of:

    to understand a trade.

  3. to assign a meaning to; interpret:

    He understood her suggestion as a complaint.

  4. to grasp the significance, implications, or importance of:

    He does not understand responsibility.

  5. to regard as firmly communicated; take as agreed or settled:

    I understand that you will repay this loan in 30 days.

  6. to learn or hear:

    I understand that you are going out of town.

  7. to accept as true; believe:

    I understand that you are trying to be truthful, but you are wrong.

  8. to construe in a particular way:

    You are to understand the phrase literally.

  9. to supply mentally (something that is not expressed).


verb (used without object)

, un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.
  1. to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed:

    She told them about it in simple words, hoping they would understand.

  2. to accept tolerantly or sympathetically:

    If you can't do it, I'll understand.

  3. to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject:

    He understands about boats.

  4. 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.

understand

/ ˌʌndəˈstænd /

verb

  1. may take a clause as object to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

    I understand you

    I understand what you mean

  2. may take a clause as object to realize or grasp (something)

    he understands your position

  3. tr; may take a clause as object to assume, infer, or believe

    I understand you are thinking of marrying

  4. tr to know how to translate or read

    can you understand Spanish?

  5. 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

  6. tr to be sympathetic to or compatible with

    we understand each other

“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


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Derived Forms

  • ˌunderˈstandable, adjective
  • ˌunderˈstandably, adverb
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Other Words From

  • preun·der·stand verb preunderstood preunderstanding
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Word History and Origins

Origin of understand1

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

Origin of understand1

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

see give to understand .
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Example Sentences

This means they will make an effort to understand the complex and nuanced healthcare landscape and all the stakeholders in it.

Let’s focus on hospitalizations for a moment to understand why.

From Vox

By understanding these aspects, you can create relevant marketing content that will resonate with your audience on the platform.

You can understand if you’re in Game 6, and someone’s going home, you better be right on the play.

Builtvisible creates resources and sustains an active blog to help their clients and potential clients understand what services they need.

He appeared to understand however belatedly that he was in the presence of another kind of greatness.

Carla points out how meaningful it can be to have people in your life who simply understand what you're going through.

I understand that this is human trafficking, but I know that my people have no other option.

Is that a utilitarian approach—that you need to understand how institutions have changed to understand the way they are?

If you look at the history, you can really understand why the parties are so divided and why the public is so split.

Now first we shall want our pupil to understand, speak, read and write the mother tongue well.

He spoke clearly and slowly, well knowing that some among the natives would understand him.

Why he did that, instead of walking around on the shore, Jimmy Rabbit couldn't understand.

"Now I have a larger place for you," the boy said, speaking just as though Squinty could understand him.

She knew that she alone of all human beings was gifted with the power to understand and fully sympathize with him.

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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.

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.

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