understandable
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- nonunderstandable adjective
- understandability noun
- understandably adverb
- ununderstandable adjective
Etymology
Origin of understandable
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: originally, “capable of understanding”; understand + -able
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.
Given the gut-wrenching nature of their penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia, it was understandable that many of them couldn't stomach this fixture.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Roher’s approach is understandable for a mainstream doc.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
The Gulf Arab caution is in one sense understandable.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
It’s understandable that CF’s stock surged after the start of the conflict, because the company is a “pure-play” nitrogen producer, and farmers have no option but to use nitrogen if planting corn, Rodriguez wrote.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
Human behavior in general is understandable only once you know the actor’s goals.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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.
