Synonyms of understands

understands

verb

present tense third-person singular of understand

1

as in derives

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

• derives
• decides
• thinks
• concludes
• infers
• assumes
• deduces
• extrapolates
• reasons
• judges
• speculates
• guesses
• supposes
• ascertains
• reads
• gathers
• makes out
• interprets
• draws a conclusion
• contemplates
• surmises
• construes
• rationalizes
• philosophizes
• conjectures
• finds out
• dopes (out)

2

as in knows

to have a practical understanding of

I think I understand how an engine works now

Synonyms & Similar Words

• knows
• comprehends
• grasps
• appreciates
• possesses
• perceives
• apprehends
• follows
• cognizes
• has
• kens
• savvies
• fathoms
• catches on (to)
• picks up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misunderstands
• misinterprets
• misconceives
• misapprehends
• misperceives
• misknows

3

as in recognizes

to have a clear idea of

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• knows
• recognizes
• comprehends
• appreciates
• sees
• deciphers
• grasps
• realizes
• perceives
• discerns
• gets
• conceives
• senses
• intuits
• apprehends
• makes
• beholds
• assimilates
• decodes
• cognizes
• seizes
• registers
• tumbles (to)
• digs
• groks
• makes out
• catches on (to)
• catches
• twigs
• absorbs
• picks up on
• savvies
• cottons (to or on to)
• compasses
• digests
• penetrates
• takes in
• pierces
• fathoms

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misses
• misunderstands
• misinterprets
• mistakes
• misreads
• misconstrues
• misconceives
• misapprehends
• misperceives

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of understands

People are complicated, and Juno Temple understands the character well enough to embody Keeley’s contradictions and make sense of them, most of the time. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

A student who understands the course content should be able to demonstrate that understanding regardless of the evaluation method. — Neetu Arnold, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Anyone who saw the Hornets get beaten up by Orlando in the NBA Play-In Tournament in April understands that the team had to get more physical at every position. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2026

Deadline understands that True Brit, which has distributed titles including Hugh Jackman’s The Death of Robin Hood, has appointed administrators at Simons Muirhead Burton to oversee the company’s affairs. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026

In a world where (good, bad and ugly) answers and options are available, an employer needs a workforce that understands the business objectives and can weed through the noise to identify and execute the best solution. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Sophie Cunningham understands something that very few others in the sports world seem to. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Vought understands that federal funding provides a tool to consolidate power into the White House, said Bagenstos, who is now a law professor at the University of Michigan, specializing in disability and appropriations law. — Lisa Song, ProPublica, 29 Sep. 2026

Any parent who remembers the frequent visits of a baby’s first year understands why reliable access to pediatric care matters. — Nicolette Natale, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026