Synonyms of understand

understand

verb

ˌən-dər-ˈstand 

1

as in to know

to have a practical understanding of

I think I understand how an engine works now

Synonyms & Similar Words

• know
• comprehend
• grasp
• appreciate
• fathom
• perceive
• possess
• apprehend
• follow
• have
• ken
• cognize
• savvy
• catch on (to)
• pick up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misunderstand
• misinterpret
• misapprehend
• misconceive
• misperceive
• misknow

2

as in to recognize

to have a clear idea of

after a few weeks in Russia I began to understand the language a little bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• know
• recognize
• comprehend
• decipher
• appreciate
• see
• grasp
• realize
• discern
• perceive
• get
• sense
• conceive
• apprehend
• make
• assimilate
• decode
• dig
• seize
• register
• intuit
• grok
• make out
• cotton (to or on to)
• behold
• tumble (to)
• catch on (to)
• fathom
• catch
• cognize
• pick up on
• compass
• savvy
• twig
• absorb
• digest
• take in
• penetrate
• pierce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• misunderstand
• misread
• misinterpret
• mistake
• misconstrue
• misconceive
• misapprehend
• misperceive

3

as in to derive

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

• derive
• decide
• think
• conclude
• infer
• guess
• deduce
• reason
• extrapolate
• assume
• judge
• speculate
• ascertain
• suppose
• read
• make out
• gather
• interpret
• surmise
• draw a conclusion
• construe
• contemplate
• rationalize
• conjecture
• find out
• philosophize
• dope (out)

Synonym Chooser

How is the word understand distinct from other similar verbs?

The words appreciate and comprehend are common synonyms of understand. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," 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

When is it sensible to use appreciate instead of understand?

The synonyms appreciate and understand are sometimes interchangeable, but appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

failed to appreciate the risks involved

Where would comprehend be a reasonable alternative to understand?

Although the words comprehend and understand have much in common, comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of understand

The most important thing to understand is that any type of aging intervention cannot make an impact if the fundamental, full-proof cornerstones of healthy aging are not optimized, including getting enough sleep, eating a balanced, nutritious diet, and moving your body consistently. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025

But after doing trainings across racial and ethnic lines, religious groups, and different regions of the state, Stein came to understand that stigma permeates every group, albeit at different intensities. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025

My job is to help each party understand what’s possible locally and where flexibility is needed, sometimes preparing clients for slower responses, other times rallying teams for a weekend push to meet a milestone. —Nathanael Bondu, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025

Stone said the group understands there are uses for guns in hunting and self-defense, but assault rifles should not be in public spaces because they are intended to cause the most harm. —Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Sep. 2025