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

Relevance
2
as in knows
to have a practical understanding of I think I understand how an engine works now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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 understands This response — full-hearted, full-throttle, fullalove — was a vivid example of Keeganism itself, as this corner of England knows and understands it. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 Specialization can help set your brokerage business apart from others because clients often want an advisor who understands the details of a particular property type. — James Nelson, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Tenisha is not included in the agreement, USA TODAY understands. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Do not hope everyone magically understands the practical need today. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 The rookie quarterback understands there's a clear distinction, though, between poise and cockiness. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 The hunter who understands something about grouse eating habits and where to look for preferred foods improves his chances at bagging ol’ ruff. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 So The GIST clearly understands the distinction between basketball coverage and culture-war coverage. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Warren grew up in Manhattan Beach watching Pac-12 football, and understands the significance of joining a history of Stanford quarterbacks that includes Luck and John Elway. — Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understands
  1. derives
  2. knows
  3. recognizes
  4. decides
  5. comprehends
  6. thinks
  7. appreciates
  8. sees
Verb
  • In those situations, advice derives much of its value from trust, accountability and experience.
    — Alex Shahidi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The authority of objects derives from their imperviousness—but too total an imperviousness precludes writing and action altogether.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of derives
Verb
  • This response — full-hearted, full-throttle, fullalove — was a vivid example of Keeganism itself, as this corner of England knows and understands it.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Getty Images As the President of the Penske Corporation, Bud Denker knows how to close some major business deals.
    — Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of knows
Verb
  • Guinness also recognizes Caterham as the world's oldest living woman.
    — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Keitel’s Feraud keeps provoking the feud; Carradine’s D’Hubert recognizes its madness but remains too bound by the same code of honor to walk away.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of recognizes
Verb
  • Written and directed by Achyuth Vinayak, the film released in theaters in 2023, following a couple whose plan to elope is complicated when the man’s sister decides to elope as well.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For high-volume production workloads, coding agents, document processing and customer operations that differential decides the purchase order.
    — Mark Minevich, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of decides
Verb
  • In an oppositional reading of a media text, the audience comprehends that the message conflicts with or contradicts their personal experiences of society.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
  • In the end, A Guardian and a Thief is a story that comprehends hunger more deeply than the world that produces it.
    — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
Definition of comprehends
Verb
  • But with veterans like Bell and Taylor Rogers in the clubhouse, Shelton thinks too many managerial speeches could be overkill.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike some sportsmen who boast of using modern, complicated equipment to improve their shooting, Kontras thinks more of his skills as a hunter than a shooter.
    — Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of thinks
Verb
  • The strait is open, and oil is flowing significantly faster than the market appreciates.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • At Guerlain, creative director of fragrance Delphine Jelk appreciates the nostalgia of vanilla while pushing it in a new direction.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of appreciates
Verb
  • Peel, who is an expert on the Mexican cattle trade, told CNN that screwworm isn’t the primary force behind high cattle prices, and sees the issue as a fig-leaf for a broader anti-free trade agenda.
    — Max Saltman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The 2017 sketch sees Matt Damon claiming to be the father of Kimmel’s child with wife Molly McNearney, and Povich was supposed to adjudicate the dispute.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of sees

Browse Nearby Words

understandings
understands
understate
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Cite this Entry

“Understands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understands. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of understands for Spanish Speakers

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