- past participle of understand.
- past tense form of understand.
understood
Americanverb
adjective
-
agreed upon; known in advance; assented to.
It is the understood policy of this establishment to limit credit.
-
implied but not stated; left unexpressed.
The understood meaning of a danger sign is “Do not approach.”
verb
adjective
-
implied or inferred
-
taken for granted; assumed
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of understood
First recorded in 1600–10, for the adjective
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.
Victoria said she did not believe those responsible for different aspects of Elise's treatment understood either her daughter or the extent of her suffering.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
We worked in formal offices, dressed in business attire, and understood the importance of speaking professionally with clients.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
“I’m really doing it because I think that this is our path toward women being understood in the world and being seen.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Senator Angus King of Maine told reporters he understood, based on a conversation with Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, that the victim was the subject of an ICE arrest warrant over his immigration status.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
The Fox sisters’ new process for communicating with the dead was understood similarly.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
