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
Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Spaceflight makes certain human stem cells age faster, a new study has found, furthering scientists’ understanding of the potential effects of space exploration on the human body.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Her husband seems disappointed but ultimately understanding.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
The stakes for understanding these processes are high.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Noun
From my understanding, [Ka’ahumanu] wanting to get in with Ka’iana doesn’t undermine that.
—Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Spaceflight makes certain human stem cells age faster, a new study has found, furthering scientists’ understanding of the potential effects of space exploration on the human body.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Faulk was remarkably understanding that his show was being cancelled.
—Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Her husband seems disappointed but ultimately understanding.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
From understanding the playbook, detecting an opponents’ strategy to developing leadership traits, there’s a lot of pressure to perform.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
The stakes for understanding these processes are high.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
-
Leaders have since reached an agreement to de-escalate tensions, temporarily lowering the duties to 30% on the United States’ side and 10% on China’s part.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This agreement aims to bolster collaboration between the two nations' trillion-dollar tech sectors, enhancing opportunities for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.—
Jarrett Renshaw,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Language contains appreciation, perspective, and possibility.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Since the 2010s, however, his photographs have started to appear with greater frequency and impact in small exhibitions throughout the Pacific Northwest, earning Matsura an ever-widening circle of admiration and appreciation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Vettel is already known as a mentor for younger drivers, and his compassionate, veteran savvy would help any racing organization develop talent.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Jess is compassionate and understanding.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Its roots are purely imitative, echoing the sound itself rather than deriving from a concrete Indo-European root.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps, though, Kubrick's cold view of Jack and choice to diminish some of King's sympathetic nuances serve to heighten the terror; how much does knowing the complex motivations of a domestic abuser help their victims?—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Participants’ weight, waist size, and body mass index (BMI) were tracked, along with their performance on tests of memory, orientation (for example, knowing the date and who the president is), and executive function (such as drawing a clock face).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For families deciphering what’s necessary and what to skip in a skin regimen, building a healthy routine for kids can be easy to manage.—
Khanh T.L. Tran,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
To make deciphering all these invites a little easier, here’s what to know about formal attire.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Republican and Democratic heads of a US congressional committee for strategic competition with China in July stressed their strong support for AUKUS, amid the review of the deal by Elbridge Colby, a top Pentagon policy official and public critic of the pact.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Next season, the Mavericks icon will be a studio analyst for a new Prime Video show as Amazon begins its 11-year, $20 billion NBA pact.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But with prices consistently uncompetitive, demand scant, and government incentives in the US and elsewhere drying up, there’s a growing perception in energy circles that the hydrogen bubble has burst.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
For many workers, the onboarding process can significantly impact their perception of their new company.—
Alyshia Hull,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share