understand

verb

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un·der·stand | \ ˌən-dər-ˈstand

understood\ ˌən-dər-ˈstu̇d

\; understanding

Definition of understand

transitive verb

1a : to grasp the meaning of understand Russian

b : to grasp the reasonableness of his behavior is hard to understand

c : to have thorough or technical acquaintance with or expertness in the practice of understand finance

d : to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of understands children

2 : to accept as a fact or truth or regard as plausible without utter certainty we understand that he is returning from abroad

3 : to interpret in one of a number of possible ways

4 : to supply in thought as though expressed "to be married" is commonly understood after the word engaged

intransitive verb

1 : to have understanding : have the power of comprehension

2 : to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something

3 : to believe or infer something to be the case

4 : to show a sympathetic or tolerant attitude toward something

Other Words from understand Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing understand Learn More About understand

Other Words from understand

understandability \ ˌən-dər-ˌstan-də-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

understandable \ ˌən-dər-ˈstan-də-bəl

\ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for understand

understand, comprehend, appreciate mean to have a clear or complete idea of. understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable. understand may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something. orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually. I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature. failed to appreciate the risks involved

Examples of understand in a Sentence

I can't understand a word you're saying. I don't understand these directions. I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand? I don't understand how this is supposed to work. He doesn't really understand the situation. You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject. I can't understand why she would do such a thing. She's beginning to understand what's going on. You have to understand that I had no other choice. At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Well before the environmental apocalypse, policy makers may understand the madness of destroying the carbon-energy industry even as several billion of the world’s poor seek better living standards. — WSJ, 16 June 2022 Part of Liivand's swimming mission is to get more people to understand the problem of marine pollution and take action. — Catherine Garcia, The Week, 16 June 2022 Intense immersion into the language and culture of 15 to 50 years ago will enable the student to understand and converse with older relatives and prospective employers. — Pat Myers, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Really, anything that might present this league as a microcosm of anything bigger takes a backseat to making sure that viewers understand that esports and sports are the same. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 June 2022 Fans don’t understand why their team isn’t doing something about him. — Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2022 These are very simple ideas that even a two- or three or four-year-old can understand. — CBS News, 12 June 2022 In my view, a red flag is burying data privacy terms in legalese that the average person cannot understand. — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 June 2022 Hudlin believes that what Milestone Comics provides may also be something that the initiative’s participants can understand as people of color. — Jevon Phillips, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'understand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.