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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of understanding
Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The Highlands Ranch neighbors CBS Colorado spoke with are understanding of the drought restrictions and pricing.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
Chastain, who is the lead star and an executive producer of the series, was not especially understanding.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
In practice, this looks like a provider not only asking about symptoms, but understanding context.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Noun
Some people know that there is no human on the other side but say that the simulation of connection and understanding is enough.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
The Highlands Ranch neighbors CBS Colorado spoke with are understanding of the drought restrictions and pricing.
—Olivia Young, CBS News, 9 May 2026
Adjective
That’s why understanding how carbon monoxide detectors work is essential for protecting your household.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
Chastain, who is the lead star and an executive producer of the series, was not especially understanding.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
This is the key to understanding why pest control is a year-round process.
—Kody Boye, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
In practice, this looks like a provider not only asking about symptoms, but understanding context.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
-
Leaders across the globe called on Iran Monday evening to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after the country launched attacks on the United Arab Emirates, putting the ceasefire agreement to its most challenging test yet.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
5 May 2026
-
Name what works, define one agreement, and build from something that feels stable and reliable.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
The appreciation began at shootaround with the team displaying a tribute photo on the jumbotron inside the arena.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
Her passion for design and meticulous attention to detail inspired my deep appreciation for creativity and craftsmanship.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Addressing it requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Contemporary, timeless, and deeply intimate in its candor, Scenes From The Divide honored all viewpoints about Mamdani’s potential impact on the Jewish community by anchoring the title in a thoughtful, compassionate lead seeking understanding from voters.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday, a jury found Geisy Rodriguez Brito, 33, of Royal Palm Beach, guilty of human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device but not guilty of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution or witness tampering.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The very legitimacy of deriving general principles from the particulars of experience can never be established from experience without already having the principle in hand.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Raman and Pratt are right in deeming Bass the old guard of a beat-up city — but the old guard didn’t get there without knowing how to win.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Instead, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division did little to confront the problem despite knowing about it for years, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS) has found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The clicks are part of a growing sperm whale phonetic alphabet that researchers at CETI are deciphering.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Under the multi-year pact, Lopez will continue in his role at the helm of the Fire Country spinoff while also developing other projects for the studio.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
Then the Motion Picture Academy went and struck a megadeal with YouTube to move the Oscars to the platform in 2029 — in a pact said to be in the nine-figure range.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The push and pull of the entertainment industry’s alternating (and/or simultaneous) love and hate for Swift has been a recurring motivator across her storied career, but her conversation with the Times emphasizes how equally damaging that love-bombing has been for her psyche and perception of self.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Each appointment chips away at the credibility of international institutions, reinforcing the perception that political deal-making outweighs basic standards of conduct.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
