comprehend

1 to have a clear idea of the age at which children can comprehend the difference between right and wrong Synonyms appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand Related Words absorb, digest, take in; realize; fathom, penetrate, pierce Phrases pick up on Near Antonyms misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand Antonyms miss

2 to have a practical understanding of it took me a while to comprehend algebra Synonyms know, grasp, understandRelated Words appreciate, apprehend, cognize, fathom, follow, ken [chiefly Scottish], perceive, savvy; have, possess; catch on (to), pick upNear Antonyms misapprehend, misconceive, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misunderstand

3 to have as part of a whole our notion of morality should comprehend much more than proper sexual behavior Synonyms carry, include, contain, embrace, encompass, entail, involve, number, subsume, take inRelated Words comprise, consist (of); bracket; have, hold, own, possess; admit, receive; compose, constitute, form, make; assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrateNear Antonyms ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit; deny, refuse, reject; eliminate, except, rule out; lose, mislay, misplaceAntonyms exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit