understanding
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.
characterized by understanding; prompted by, based on, or demonstrating comprehension, intelligence, discernment, empathy, or the like: an understanding attitude.
Origin of understanding
1Other words from understanding
- un·der·stand·ing·ly, adverb
- non·un·der·stand·ing, adjective, noun
- non·un·der·stand·ing·ly, adverb
- self-un·der·stand·ing, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use understanding in a sentence
We’ve got to be a place that gives people tools to help them grapple with the challenges of today, whether it’s helping people grapple with race, or a better understanding of the power of science.
That includes our understanding of how the virus spreads, how it attacks the body, how having another disease at the same time might raise the risk, and what leads to super-spreader events.
That includes our understanding of how the virus spreads, how it attacks the body, how having another disease at the same time might raise the risk, and what leads to superspreader events.
Although I had a general understanding of how our elections are run, it wasn’t until I actually assisted in the processing of ballots that I realized just how much effort goes into the security of our elections.
A Pennsylvania poll worker explains the painstaking process of counting votes | Kyle Brashear | November 12, 2020 | VoxIt was clear through interviews with Pelletier and members of the commission that there was not a common understanding of the executive director’s role versus the commissioners’ role, Fox said.
Maine Governor Won’t Fund Reforms for Public Defense Agency Without Accountability | by Samantha Hogan, The Maine Monitor | November 11, 2020 | ProPublica
Snatching at its meaning she ran through the three thin sheets; then she read it deliberately, understandingly.
Growing Up | Jennie M. DrinkwaterHe read all the books he could obtain, and read them understandingly.
The members of the Board of Strategy nodded understandingly and sat down upon the sofa.
Cy Whittaker's Place | Joseph C. LincolnWalker patted him on the shoulder understandingly, while Strong looked out of the window and pretended he did not see.
Ted Marsh on an Important Mission | Elmer SherwoodThere could be no such doubt about the struggle itself, however, and Mbopo nodded understandingly.
The Blind Lion of the Congo | Elliott Whitney
British Dictionary definitions for understanding
/ (ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ) /
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
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
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
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