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

It is understood he will not be in Northern Ireland on Thursday, but will speak to the Stormont Finance Minister John O'Dowd from London.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

That is a message the regime understood, and they came to the negotiating table.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

While the emotional benefits of aging in place are understood, the financial consequences are often underestimated.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

These features had not been seen before in early dinosaurs, suggesting they were evolving in more complex ways than previously understood.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

She was in a dark forest and called out to him, but he always woke up before he understood what she was saying.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova