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

Additional pressures In reaching her own historic milestone as the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft, Proctor understands that a historic moment like this carries not just incredible significance but a fair amount of personal pressure as well. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Still, Taiwan understands Washington’s determination to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and is willing to support that effort. — Lin Chia-Lung, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

Deadline understands at least one large production outfit considers wrap parties, late-night working and staying in hotels as part of its risk assessments. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2026

Not an invitation so much as a reflection of a woman who understands, and is comfortable with, the physical side of the human condition. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Samsung still understands multitasking better Here's where those seven years of Samsung experience become apparent. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

No one understands the magnitude of the situation better than DeCosta. — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

There’s a shortage of really good talent that understands technology and AI, and the ability to attract, to afford, that talent becomes a question of scale. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Spoelstra, who’s Filipino American, understands the magnitude of the history that Nakase made by becoming the first Asian American head coach to win a WNBA title when the Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026