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

University of Miami president Joe Echevarria understands where the Atlantic Coast Conference stands in the grand scheme of college athletics. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

The smiling, amiable android understands very little about her surroundings, believing that the sun (which recharges her batteries) is a deity that listens to her prayers to be chosen by a human. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Her advice to international houses is to work with an organization or individual who understands the festival and can lead the narrative. — Sujata Assomull, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Above all, Flanagan understands how even a mother’s love can be poisoned by fear when Carrie uses her newfound powers to wrest control of the household from her mother. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

After working alongside Murphy for so long and now competing with him, Counsell understands why his college coach's approach has worked so well in the big leagues. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Paxton understands that true economic prosperity relies on a fair and predictable justice system. — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Oct. 2026

Deadline understands that a number of executives in its unscripted casting and development teams have been impacted by the cuts. — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Jasper, in Chicago, understands the risk of silencing those hunger cues. — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026