- present participle of understand.
understanding
Americannoun
-
understanding
plural
-
mental process of a person who comprehends; comprehension; personal interpretation.
My understanding of the word does not agree with yours.
-
intellectual faculties; intelligence; mind.
a quick understanding.
-
superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence.
With her keen understanding she should have become a leader.
-
knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing; skill in dealing with or handling something.
an understanding of accounting practice.
-
a state of cooperative or mutually tolerant relations between people.
To him, understanding and goodwill were the supreme virtues.
-
a mutual agreement, especially of a private, unannounced, or tacit kind.
They had an understanding about who would do the dishes.
-
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.
-
Philosophy.
-
the power of abstract thought; logical power.
-
Kantianism. the mental faculty resolving the sensory manifold into the transcendental unity of apperception.
-
adjective
noun
-
the ability to learn, judge, make decisions, etc; intelligence or sense
-
personal opinion or interpretation of a subject
my understanding of your predicament
-
a mutual agreement or compact, esp an informal or private one
-
an unofficial engagement to be married
-
archaic philosophy the mind, esp the faculty of reason
-
with the condition that; providing
adjective
-
sympathetic, tolerant, or wise towards people
-
possessing judgment and intelligence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of understanding
First recorded before 1050; understand + -ing 1 ( def. )
Explanation
To be understanding is to be sympathetic to someone’s woes. Understanding a concept means you get it. Your understanding might be that your mother will always drive you to school if you miss the bus. The sum of your knowledge of a certain topic, is your understanding of it. This can change, or deepen as you learn more. But being an understanding person doesn't take a lot of studying — it takes opening your heart to appreciate what someone else feels or experiences. If someone says to you, "I thought we had an understanding," you must have done something unexpected. Here, understanding means "an agreement."
Vocabulary lists containing understanding
Positive Words to Describe People, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
myPerspectives 7.5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 7
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
He says a lack of understanding of how to support adopted adults resulted in the delay in him getting tested.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
In his newsletter, the Surge, Jim explains one story that’s essential for understanding the news, one story to keep an eye on, and one story that everyone needs to chill out about.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
Reinsve, known for more outwardly dynamic roles in “The Worst Person in the World” and “Sentimental Value,” here conveys a subdued nuance as Lisbet struggles with understanding her place between her husband and her children.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
“Suddenly the market woke up to the understanding that AI could generate massive cyber risks to organizations, and the only way to protect against that risk was with AI-native cybersecurity products,” Spergel said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
“Noooo,” I wail, understanding no matter what, Caesar’s leaving.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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.
