understand

verb un·der·stand \ ˌən-dər-ˈstand \

|Updated on: 3 Jul 2018

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Examples: understand in a Sentence

Definition of understand

understood play \ˌən-dər-ˈstu̇d\; understanding

transitive verb

1 a : to grasp the meaning of

understand Russian

b : to grasp the reasonableness of

his behavior is hard to understand

c : to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of

understand finance

d : to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of

understands children

2 : to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty

we understand that he is returning from abroad

3 : to interpret in one of a number of possible ways

4 : to supply in thought as though expressed

"to be married" is commonly understood after the word engaged

intransitive verb

1 : to have understanding : have the power of comprehension

2 : to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something

3 : to believe or infer something to be the case

4 : to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something

—

understandability

play \ˌən-dər-ˌstan-də-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

understandable

play \ˌən-dər-ˈstan-də-bəl\ adjective

See understand defined for English-language learners

See understand defined for kids

Examples of understand in a Sentence

I can't understand a word you're saying.
I don't understand these directions.
I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand?
I don't understand how this is supposed to work.
He doesn't really understand the situation.
You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject.
I can't understand why she would do such a thing.
She's beginning to understand what's going on.
You have to understand that I had no other choice.
At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now.

Recent Examples of understand from the Web

New boss Gary Rowett is set to offer the Spaniard, and a number of his teammates, the opportunity to prove himself throughout pre season, but Bojan is understood to be favouring a permanent switch following the club's relegation to the Championship.

— SI.com, "Journalist Provides Latest Bojan Update as MLS Side Linked With Move for Stoke Forward," 30 June 2018
Read more: Having a conversation is not the same as nagging, as long as both of you talk and listen and feel heard and understood.

— amy dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Engagement can happen without ‘nagging’," 30 June 2018
Diana spent the next few months trying to understand what Alex had gotten himself into.

— amelia harnish, refinery29.com, ""At This Point We Are In Despair": One Woman's Quest To Bring Her Brother Home From NXIVM," 29 June 2018
For the love of heaven, try to understand that word didn’t kill anyone.

— alex daugherty, miamiherald, "Rubio explains why he lamented use of F-word in media a day after newsroom shootings," 29 June 2018
Even if your ideas aren’t understood now, they’ll be recognized eventually.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What July's Libra Horoscope Means for You," 29 June 2018
How this will play out in the long term is not well understood.

— kevin davenport, idahostatesman, "Night shift: Animals are retreating into the darkness out of fear of humans," 28 June 2018
Eva, Tom & Katie are trying to understand it all along with us.

— scott springer, Cincinnati.com, "Lakota West lacrosse player's dad: 'I pray that we will see Matt’s Miracle'," 25 June 2018
And the public still, for the most part, is trying to understand why Trump would wear that particular jacket, on that particular day, for that particular visit.

— leah bourne, Glamour, "When You're the First Lady, a Jacket Isn't Ever 'Just a Jacket'," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'understand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of understand

Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

understand Synonyms

Phrases

pick up on;

Synonym Discussion of understand

understand, comprehend, appreciate mean to have a clear or complete idea of. understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable. understand may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.

- orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed

comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

- I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

- failed to appreciate the risks involved

UNDERSTAND Defined for English Language Learners

understand

verb

Definition of understand for English Language Learners

: to know the meaning of (something, such as the words that someone is saying or a language)
: to know how (something) works or happens
: to know how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves