understanding

[uhn-der-stan-ding]

noun

1. mental process of a person who comprehends; comprehension; personal interpretation.

   My understanding of the word does not agree with yours.

2. intellectual faculties; intelligence; mind.

   a quick understanding.

3. superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence.

   With her keen understanding she should have become a leader.

4. knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing; skill in dealing with or handling something.

   an understanding of accounting practice.

5. a state of cooperative or mutually tolerant relations between people.

   To him, understanding and goodwill were the supreme virtues.

6. a mutual agreement, especially of a private, unannounced, or tacit kind.

   They had an understanding about who would do the dishes.

7. an agreement regulating joint activity or settling differences, often informal or preliminary in character.

   After hours of negotiation, no understanding on a new contract was reached.

8. Philosophy.

   1. the power of abstract thought; logical power.

   2. Kantianism.,  the mental faculty resolving the sensory manifold into the transcendental unity of apperception.

adjective

1. characterized by understanding; prompted by, based on, or demonstrating comprehension, intelligence, discernment, empathy, or the like.

   an understanding attitude.

understanding

/ ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ /

noun

1. the ability to learn, judge, make decisions, etc; intelligence or sense

2. personal opinion or interpretation of a subject

   my understanding of your predicament

3. a mutual agreement or compact, esp an informal or private one

4. an unofficial engagement to be married

5. archaic,  philosophy the mind, esp the faculty of reason

6. with the condition that; providing

adjective

1. sympathetic, tolerant, or wise towards people

2. possessing judgment and intelligence

Other Word Forms

• understandingly adverb
• nonunderstanding adjective
• nonunderstandingly adverb
• self-understanding noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of understanding¹

First recorded before 1050; understand + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

I happily said yes, but to my understanding, I only agreed to lend her the space.

Read more on MarketWatch

In my experience, a lot of these supporters have a great understanding and knowledge of their team and the players, and have the right to criticise.

Read more on BBC

He has a deep understanding of accounting, legal and risk matters and how they differ among countries in his region.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A pact, or memorandum of understanding, sets conditions under which a new pipeline that carries crude oil from Alberta to the Pacific Coast can be built.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Officials said they still had no clear understanding of the motive behind the shooting.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• conclusion 
• idea 
• impression 
• interpretation 
• judgment 
• knowledge 
• meaning 
• opinion 
• perception 
• sense 
• sympathy 
• view