: ability to understand
He has not the slightest comprehension of the subject. [=he does not understand the subject at all]
The students showed excellent reading/language comprehension.
The war caused suffering beyond comprehension. [=suffering that is impossible to imagine]
mysteries that are beyond our comprehension [=mysteries that we cannot understand]
I don't have a clear comprehension [=understanding] of how it works.
Cite this Entry
“Comprehension.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/comprehension. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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