Definition of understand
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
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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for understand
The first known use of understand was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century