How to Use understand in a Sentence

understand

verb
  • You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject.
  • I can't understand why she would do such a thing.
  • I don't understand how this is supposed to work.
  • I can't understand a word you're saying.
  • I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand?
  • 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.
  • She's beginning to understand what's going on.
  • I don't understand these directions.
  • He doesn't really understand the situation.
  • And for purchasers to understand the rules of the road.
    Hailey Lennon, Forbes, 6 July 2022
  • How this will play out in the long term is not well understood.
    Kevin Davenport, idahostatesman, 28 June 2018
  • He may not be fazed by the fuss, but sure does understand it.
    Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Apr. 2018
  • To understand that blood ties are not the only ties that bind.
    ELLE, 31 Mar. 2022
  • Please focus on the people who understand you in the present.
    Meredith Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2023
  • Some said the plan was rushed and that not enough people understand it.
    Kaitlin Edquist, chicagotribune.com, 15 Dec. 2020
  • Both sides need to understand how the other side thinks.
    Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 23 Dec. 2017
  • Of course, the young man will never understand this truth.
    Daniel Tenreiro, National Review, 14 Sep. 2021
  • These three understand the style power of jeans and a crisp white shirt.
    Whitney Perry, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2020
  • Does Louie understand that the bump is not a child and will not result in a child?
    Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 16 May 2021
  • Those with their own scars, though, seem to understand.
    Marina Gomberg, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Oct. 2021
  • Most artists only did gags and didn’t quite understand what a point of view was.
    Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2022
  • This tool is the only true way to understand when the steak is done to your liking (see recipe).
    Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 2 June 2021
  • The two men each seemed to understand that money—and how to spend it—was key to their ascent.
    Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 15 May 2023
  • For the love of heaven, try to understand that word didn’t kill anyone.
    Alex Daugherty, miamiherald, 29 June 2018
  • An owner may not see the snake that bit their dog or understand what happened.
    Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 June 2022
  • Hearing that helped me understand why that event had such a big impact on her.
    Paige Skinner, Teen Vogue, 11 Feb. 2020
  • Researchers hope that the new find could help understand the process further.
    CNN, 24 Feb. 2022
  • Fish heads are a great model for understanding how joints work and how bones move.
    James Gorman, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2017
  • Most didn’t understand that their choice could mean a shot at living longer.
    Ivana Hrynkiw | Ihrynkiw@al.com, al, 6 Sep. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'understand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: