Definition of understandingnext
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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

understanding

2 of 3

adjective

understanding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of understand
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3

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 understanding
Noun
Since the memorandum of understanding's unraveling, Iran has resumed attacks on ships in the strait that Iranian leaders say lack permission to access the channel. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 That understanding for the narrator is one tinged with mourning for the boy who endured but also the suspect boy who was always there, even before all the unfortunate happenings. Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
At the command, my commanding officer was very understanding. Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 10 May 2026 Letting go of the camera metaphor could be a step toward better understanding how memory works. Gabrielle Principe, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Verb
Jack Scalo said the company’s future rests on understanding the physical work behind that response. Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Reading is a huge part of my job — understanding a character, deep diving into the soul of another person. Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
  • The agreement Hansen describes would be a much larger legal matter than a standard screening NDA, and would not be asked of other individuals screening the film — including press and third-party marketing agencies.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Other notable laws passed this legislative session included a ban on 287(g) agreements and the Maryland Community Trust Act.
    Dennis Valera, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Fragrances play a vital role in both everyday life and special occasions, reflecting the region’s appreciation for sensory beauty and its long-standing influence on the global fragrance industry.
    Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For the Ramona Branch, those opportunities are an important part of helping young people develop a lifelong appreciation for physical activity and healthy lifestyles, officials said.
    Stephanie Ogilvie, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Clancy was an attentive mother and a compassionate nurse, said Margaret Hamp, a nurse who worked with the defendant.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • His friends in Hawaii remember him as thoughtful, kind, and compassionate.
    Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Understand that your parents must be deriving some satisfaction from encouraging your brother’s dependency.
    Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Adoring the outcome means deriving joy from seeing the success of others.
    Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • After games, watch out for the players craving french fries at Newbury Park and knowing someone to seek out who can help.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The Chiefs’ running game was so listless that defenses ignored fake handoffs and instead retreated to defend the pass, knowing the consequences of guessing wrong weren’t all that punishing anyway.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Western San Gabriel Mountains/Highway 14 Corridor When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial.
    Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 30 July 2026
  • Jonestown afflicted Naipaul’s vision, his way of deciphering not just political manias but the dreariness of urban life, the perpetual doom of the nuclear-arms race.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • That means even products that otherwise qualify for preferential treatment under the North American trade pact could have been included in these duties.
    Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The countries have held joint military drills and signed a nuclear power development pact and agreed to cooperate in human space flight projects including the selection and training of Myanmar’s first cosmonaut.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Federal incentives attached to adoption fed the perception of coercion, even though the standards were developed outside the federal government and state adoption was voluntary.
    Michael Casserly, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • In Season 3, Jeff Daniels appeared as Jimmy’s father, and Segel said that had been a great revelation in what drives Jimmy and his perception of Paul as a kind of father figure.
    Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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