understanding

[ uhn-der-stan-ding ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈstæn dɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR understanding ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of understanding

before 1050; Middle English understandynge, late Old English understandincge (noun). See understand, -ing¹, -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM understanding

un·der·stand·ing·ly, adverbnon·un·der·stand·ing, adjective, nounnon·un·der·stand·ing·ly, adverbself-un·der·stand·ing, noun

Words nearby understanding

underspend, underspin, understaffed, understand, understandable, understanding, understate, understated, understatement, understeer, understock

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for understandingly

Vandersee smiled back, compassionately and understandingly, and laid a tremendous hand on Gordon's shoulder.
Gold Out of Celebes|Aylward Edward Dingle
Understandingly, David and Connie allowed her to pass inside without comment.
Sunny Slopes|Ethel Hueston
But Jack smiled at me understandingly, refusing to argue with anything so small as Jill, and they departed, counting the spoil.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 150, June 14, 1916|Various
To hear the truth attentively and understandingly is to drink it in, as we drink water when we are thirsty.
Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary|John Kline

We must regard him thus if we would study him understandingly, and gain from our observation a correct estimate of his power.
The Bay State Monthly, Volume I. No. VI. June, 1884|Various

British Dictionary definitions for understandingly

understanding

/ (ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ) /

noun

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

personal opinion or interpretation of a subjectmy understanding of your predicament

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

mainly British an unofficial engagement to be married

philosophy archaic the mind, esp the faculty of reason

on the understanding that with the condition that; providing

adjective

sympathetic, tolerant, or wise towards people

possessing judgment and intelligence

Derived forms of understanding

understandingly, adverb

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

understanding

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Origin of understanding

OTHER WORDS FROM understanding

Words nearby understanding

Words related to understandingly

Example sentences from the Web for understandingly

British Dictionary definitions for understandingly

noun

adjective

Derived forms of understanding