Definition of comprehendnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word comprehend distinct from other similar verbs?

The words appreciate and understand are common synonyms of comprehend. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

When is it sensible to use appreciate instead of comprehend?

While the synonyms appreciate and comprehend are close in meaning, appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

failed to appreciate the risks involved

How are the words understand and comprehend related?

Both understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable, with understand sometimes stressing the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.

orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of comprehend Just a few years ago the meaning lay hidden behind a wall of medical jargon that only doctors could comprehend. Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 15 May 2026 That left the participants struggling to comprehend either one. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 14 May 2026 While the likes of Bacon and Montesquieu and Locke taught them how to think with open yet skeptical minds—and to comprehend natural law and human rights—Cicero and Cato and Seneca showed them how to act with civic virtue. Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 The Texas chapter, led by Collins, is dedicated to providing everyday citizens with the necessary insight and structure to comprehend policies discussed in local decision-making. William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for comprehend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comprehend
Verb
  • It is being built here, in MDC’s classrooms by an institution that understood early on that the city’s greatest competitive advantage was always the people already living in it.
    Miami Dade College, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
  • This suggests that buyers are increasingly narrowing down their talent searches to specialists that understand the unique peculiarities and context windows that come attached to different coding tools, with Anthropic’s Claude being the most popular.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Videos of climbers waiting in long queues in an area known as the death zone – where the air is too thin to breathe unaided for long – on their way to the summit have once again made headlines, alongside record-breaking ascents from both Nepali and foreign climbers.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • The way Daniel and Jackie get to know each other feels more authentic than genuine, navigating playful bonding moments as well as their own personal hang-ups.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • Located on a magnificent campus encompassing more than 27,000 acres in Rome, Ga.
    Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 30 May 2026
  • One of the most intriguing features of the Red Sea is that the experience encompasses so much more than secluded islands, untouched coral reefs, and lazy days on a yacht deck.
    Lauren Keith, Robb Report, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • Immigration experts who were trying to decipher the news said the memo was more nuanced, leading to confusion over what the change actually entailed.
    Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • The spa With 11 treatment rooms, including a couples’ area, and men’s and women’s relaxation areas with hydrotherapy areas, the spa is a substantial amenity.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • Brief endnotes are included for extra-curious readers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Malik Washington must evolve as a receiver Washington, who has been praised in the past for his ability to learn and execute the offense, seems to be grasping Miami’s playbook faster than the rest of his fellow receivers.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 31 May 2026
  • That student-body demographics might limit the Options is a difficult concept for your mother to grasp.
    Taiye Selasi, New Yorker, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • The wall drawings also contain erasure marks, vestiges of the artist’s false starts and corrections.
    Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Substituting regular flour for options that contain more protein when baking, such as oat, almond, chickpea, or whole wheat flour.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, and the UAE maintains an expansive commercial and military presence in the port city of Berbera.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • Our partners recognize that local journalism and an informed citizenry are foundational for our society.
    Steve Coffman June 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Comprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comprehend. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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