Definition of understandingnext
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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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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
The same three factors—reversibility, understanding and cost—decide every tier, every time. Karthik Kannan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026 The data will help atmospheric physics and chemistry researchers improve their models to further our understanding of the potential damage the growing satellite industry might do to the planet and its climate in the future. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 8 Sep. 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
Thus, understanding these binary systems is vital to our understanding of stars and of galaxies in general. Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026 And yet the key to understanding a cat’s meow will often rest specifically with that cat’s caretaker. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
  • After a group of civil rights groups sued Cooper’s gubernatorial administration in 2020 over COVID-19 infection risks, a North Carolina Superior Court judge ordered the two sides to reach an agreement.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Under the new agreement, Google will receive environmental attribute certificates (EACs) from a portion (up to 91,000 metric tons) of the steel produced in Stegra’s first year of production.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Investors seeking total return, which includes price appreciation and income, may want to stick with equities right now since bond yields are expected to move higher, said Rehling.
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
  • What distinguished their negotiations was that Kissinger and Zhou each established a true intellectual appreciation for the other as a partner.
    Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The program, also known as compassionate use, is a regulatory pathway that helps dying patients get unproven drugs outside of a clinical trial.
    Gerry Smith, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • While everyone else seemed to be compassionate and understanding, David sometimes was not.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In 1995, the death of 16-year-old John Marshall, who suffered a heart attack deriving from an undiagnosed condition known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, proved to be a line-in-the-sand moment.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • There's no retrieval system for reusing institutional knowledge rather than re-deriving it.
    Imran Aftab, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • There is a particular sort of helplessness that comes from knowing exactly how to fix a computer while being hundreds of miles away from it.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026
  • But knowing the building blocks of a balanced plate, as well as which foods pair well to prevent a blood sugar spike, can make the process easier.
    Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And navigating a website might involve deciphering images or knowing what links to click.
    Jennifer D. Kobrin, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The prevention of future pandemics relies on information from previous outbreaks, which is one reason why deciphering the origins of the COVID-19 began is important.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In recent years, Canberra has also inked mutual defense agreements with Fiji and Papua New Guinea alongside negotiations for a similar pact with Tonga; deals with Tuvalu and Vanuatu restrict them from security cooperation with Beijing.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The financials are also unmatched, with last year’s annual check to each franchise from 345 Park Ave topping $450 million from leaguewide deals, primarily driven by the NFL’s $125 billion in media pacts.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • There’s no tangible title on the line in this one – there’s only perception.
    Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Quite the sobering commentary on society, but the next WNBA commissioner must understand the high-wire act of being in charge while combating the perception of not being warm enough.
    Candace Buckner, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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