1
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
the tenants came to an understanding with the landlord that they would be able to renew their leases for the same rent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in appreciation
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
a social observer with a deep understanding of the problems that the nation's cities face in the 21st century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in compassionate
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another
a kind and understanding teacher who often helps troubled students
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deriving
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information
as I understand it, this is the best plan that we have
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in knowing
to have a practical understanding of
I think I understand how an engine works now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deciphering
to have a clear idea of
after a few weeks in Russia I began to understand the language a little bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of understanding
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Is that your understanding, too?
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025
Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
So understanding that and understanding that that is what comes with it, and not taking things to heart, just being super lightweight about it, and being careful with not reading too much or going into too much things.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Noun
Still, Punch's moving message about the true power of connection and understanding in the wake of unthinkable tragedy is one that is desperately needed these days.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
Is that your understanding, too?
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
The former Hearst staffer launched her media consultancy, EMC Paris, after the publishing company closed its Paris offices in 2006, and expanded to working with digital after understanding the potential of Instagram more than a decade ago.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
So understanding that and understanding that that is what comes with it, and not taking things to heart, just being super lightweight about it, and being careful with not reading too much or going into too much things.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
-
His artificial intelligence startup, now valued at $500 billion, has signed agreements with several companies including Oracle, Coreweave and Broadcom.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Smotrich demanded there be no agreement on Palestinian Authority or Qatari involvement in Gazan governance, nor anything that supports the concept of a future independent Palestinian state.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Taylor said, emphasizing her appreciation for Pierre.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
-
While tipping is optional, many guests budget for it as a way to show appreciation for standout service.—
Elliott Harrell,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Through the compassionate yet rigorous structures of restorative justice and the generosity of two people who might have spent their lives hating him, Dunne changed course.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
-
When dads model respect and emotional awareness at home, their kids—and their coworkers—benefit from stronger, more compassionate leadership.—
Alex Shoemaker,
Parents,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the years since, Wickelgren, Kass and others have reframed a host of other enumerative problems using motivic homotopy theory, deriving the relevant quadratic forms in various number systems.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
26 Sep. 2025
-
About half of the company’s sales are direct-to-consumer, deriving from the stores as well as Rails’ e-commerce site.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The lawsuit further alleges that the airlines manipulated and abused the arrival rate system at DCA airport to force more arrivals per hour, despite knowing that doing so would reduce safety margins.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The price point is steep, especially knowing that there aren’t easier care instructions or colors to choose from for those who like an eclectic bedspread.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Though historians have called for further research before making claims, the proposal of a script rooted in sign language might open the chance to explore a new way of deciphering Mayan art and show the ancient civilization to be even more sophisticated and efficient than scholars even knew.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Now, a team of international astronomers has succeeded in deciphering the gravitational wave signal, GW190412, to determine more about the collision and the resulting event that sent an infant black hole hurtling through space.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The companies’ current agreement expires on Tuesday, September 30 — the same day a separate pact between YouTube TV and TelevisaUnivision also expires.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
-
That is why Trump must take the Saudi-Pakistan defense pact not as a rejection, but as a warning shot.—
Firas Maksad,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Robots companies are barely talking about security in public, despite how damaging even the perception of an unsecured robot might be.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The declining perception of the importance of college has been reflected in enrollment figures, with many choosing to forego higher education over concerns about tuition costs, student loan debt and what is taught at universities.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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