understood

American  

[uhn-der-stood] / ˌʌn dərˈstʊd /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of understand.

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adjective

1. agreed upon; known in advance; assented to.

   It is the understood policy of this establishment to limit credit.

2. implied but not stated; left unexpressed.

   The understood meaning of a danger sign is “Do not approach.”

understood British  

/ ˌʌndəˈstʊd /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of understand

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adjective

1. implied or inferred

2. taken for granted; assumed

Other Word Forms

• half-understood adjective
• nonunderstood adjective
• self-understood adjective
• well-understood adjective

Etymology

Origin of understood

First recorded in 1600–10, for the adjective

Example Sentences

Government officials are understood to be formulating potential plans to evacuate UK nationals, should airspace in the region remain closed.

From BBC

Within the Assembly of Experts, however, there is understood to be a small committee tasked with reviewing and narrowing down names, potentially presenting a shortlist to the full body once formal proceedings begin.

From BBC

They featured detailed drawings of various ancient fossils and prehistoric creatures, whose origins were beginning to be studied and understood by scientists at the time.

From BBC

Hughes also keenly understood that, because these personalities were so familiar, his characters wouldn’t stand out to viewers unless they pushed their paradigm.

From Salon

Until now, much of what scientists understood about iron sources in these waters came from simulations and computer models.

From Science Daily