understandun‧der‧stand /ˌʌndəˈstænd $ -ər-/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle understood /-ˈstʊd/) 
She doesn’t understand English. I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Can you explain that again? The woman had a strong accent, and I couldn’t understand what she was saying.make yourself understood (=make what you say clear to other people, especially when speaking a foreign language) I’m not very good at German, but I can make myself understood.2fact/idea [intransitive, transitive] to know or realize how a fact, process, situation etc works, especially through learning or experience: I don’t really understand the political situation in Egypt.understand how/why/where etc You don’t need to understand how computers work to be able to use them. How the drug works isn’t fully understood.understand (that) I understand that this treatment may not work.3person/feelings [intransitive, transitive] to realize how someone feels and why they behave the way they do, and to be sympathetic: My parents just don’t understand me. Just tell him how you feel – I’m sure he’ll understand.understand how/what etc I understand how you feel, but I think you’re overreacting.(can) understand somebody doing something I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.4believe/think [transitive] to believe or think that something is true because you have heard it or read itunderstand (that) ‘I understand that he was 62 when he died,’ McLeish said.it is understood (that) It is understood that the Queen approves of her nephew’s romance.be understood to be (doing) something Dillons is understood to be reorganising the company’s management structure.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you say it is understood that when saying what people in general believe is true: · It is understood that an agreement will be signed today.5give somebody to understand (that) formal to make someone believe that something is true, going to happen etc, without telling them this directly: I was given to understand that the property was in good condition.6be understood (that) formal if something is understood, everyone knows it, or has agreed to it, and there is no need to discuss it: From childhood it was understood that your parents would choose your husband.7understand something to be/mean something to accept something as having a particular meaning: In this document, ‘children’ is understood to mean people under 14.8do you understand? spoken used when you are telling someone what they should or should not do, especially when you are angry with them: Never speak to me like that again! Do you understand?GRAMMAR: Using the progressiveUnderstand is not used in the progressive. You say: · I understand what you’re saying. ✗Don’t say: I’m understanding what you’re saying.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSunderstand to know the meaning of something, or the reasons for something: · I understand what you’re saying.· Doctors are beginning to understand what causes the disease.see especially spoken to understand something, especially the truth about a situation or the reasons for something: · I can see why you don’t like him.· Do you see what I mean?· Oh, I see!get informal to understand a joke, what someone says, the reasons why something is true etc: · She didn’t seem to get the joke.· Do you get me?· He explained the math homework twice, but I still don’t get it.· I still don’t get why she left.comprehend formal to understand something, or understand why something is important: · The dream was easy to describe, but difficult to comprehend.· They had failed to comprehend the significance of the problem.know what somebody means spoken to understand what someone is telling you, or what a situation is like, especially because you have some experience or knowledge about this: · ‘It can be really hard to give up smoking.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean.’· We now know what the scientists meant when they warned about global warming.follow to understand something such as an explanation or story as you hear it, read it etc: · The plot is hard to follow.· His instructions were easy to follow.to understand something difficultgrasp to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one: · Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp.· I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.fathom /ˈfæðəm/ formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it: · She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.make sense of something to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it: · People are still trying to make sense of the news.can’t make head nor tail of something spoken used when something seems impossible to understand: · I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.
WORD ORIGINunderstand
Origin:
Old English understandan, from under + standan ‘to stand’VERB TABLE
understand
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | understand |
| he, she, it | understands | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | understood |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have understood |
| he, she, it | has understood | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had understood |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will understand |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have understood |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Ben asked a few questions to make sure he understood what to do.
- Computer manuals should be written in a way that is easy to understand.
- Doctors still do not fully understand the process by which the disease is transmitted.
- Don't worry. I understand perfectly.
- How can I make you understand?
- I'm sorry. I still don't understand. Can you say it slower?
- I'm sure if you talk to your boss, he'll understand.
- I'm sure your teacher will understand.
- I understand how you feel, but I still think you should apologize to her.
- I completely understand how things are when money is tight.
- I didn't understand the teacher's instructions.
- She spoke slowly and clearly so that everyone could understand.
- Sondra doesn't understand football at all.
- The witness said he understood that he was swearing to give true and correct information.
- Unfortunately she doesn't understand English.
- We're trying very hard to understand what she's going through.
- When he's old enough to understand, we'll tell him he's adopted.
- You can only apologize, and hope that she'll understand.
- You don't need to understand how a computer works to use it.
- A person watching could understand and almost envy it.
- Bateson now argued that the direct study of variation was the only way of trying to understand how evolution actually works.
- Naturally June couldn't understand why it was that I went on cutting her.
- The second cost associated with producing fund accounts relates to the investment of time and skill needed to understand them.
- They understand what we say better than we understand them.
- Unlike many political appointees, she was determined to understand the most complex details of her job.
THESAURUS
to know the meaning of something, or the reasons for something: · I understand what you’re saying.· Doctors are beginning to understand what causes the disease.
especially spoken to understand something, especially the truth about a situation or the reasons for something: · I can see why you don’t like him.· Do you see what I mean?· Oh, I see!
informal to understand a joke, what someone says, the reasons why something is true etc: · She didn’t seem to get the joke.· Do you get me?· He explained the math homework twice, but I still don’t get it.· I still don’t get why she left.
formal to understand something, or understand why something is important: · The dream was easy to describe, but difficult to comprehend.· They had failed to comprehend the significance of the problem.
spoken to understand what someone is telling you, or what a situation is like, especially because you have some experience or knowledge about this: · ‘It can be really hard to give up smoking.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean.’· We now know what the scientists meant when they warned about global warming.
to understand something such as an explanation or story as you hear it, read it etc: · The plot is hard to follow.· His instructions were easy to follow.
to understand something difficult to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one: · Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp.· I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.
formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it: · She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.
to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it: · People are still trying to make sense of the news.
spoken used when something seems impossible to understand: · I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.
Longman Language Activatorto understand a situation, idea, or what someone is telling you · She spoke slowly and clearly so that everyone could understand.· I didn't understand the teacher's instructions.· When he's old enough to understand, we'll tell him he's adopted.understand what/why/how etc · Ben asked a few questions to make sure he understood what to do.· You don't need to understand how a computer works to use it.understand that · The witness said he understood that he was swearing to give true and correct information.easy/difficult to understand · Computer manuals should be written in a way that is easy to understand.understand perfectly (=understand completely) · Don't worry. I understand perfectly.fully understand (=understand completely) · Doctors still do not fully understand the process by which the disease is transmitted.
to understand what someone is telling you, especially if they have not expressed it very clearly: · I don't think your audience is going to know what you mean by this.you know what I mean? (=say this to check that someone understands you): · He seems really sad, you know what I mean?I know what you mean (=say this to show that you understand): · "It's a thing you hold pieces of wood in when you're doing woodwork." "Oh, I know what you mean -- a vice."
especially spoken to understand the truth about a situation, or understand the reasons for something: see what somebody means: · Try it for yourself, and you'll see what I mean.see why/how/what etc: · I can see why people don't like him.I see (=say this when you understand what someone has told you): · "It goes in the red box, here." "Oh, I see."you see (=say this when you are explaining something): · Well, you see, he's not really ready to read a book this difficult.see (that): · Well, I can see that the logic is somehow wrong, but I don't know why exactly.see any reason: · Can you see any reason why it shouldn't work?see the point (=understand why something is important): · At fourteen, he couldn't see the point of staying in school.see somebody's point (=understand the main idea or importance of what someone is saying): · I didn't like his attitude, but I could see his point.see the joke British (=understand why something is funny): · He's just one of those people who never seem to see the joke.
spoken to understand what someone says, what is happening, or why or how something happens: get it: · "Do you understand?" "Yeah, we've got it," one of the drivers replied.· Barbara Howell and her husband, Kenneth (Barbie and Ken, get it?) run a bed-and-breakfast inn.I don't get it: · Why did you turn down such a fantastic job? I don't get it.get a/the joke (=understand why something is funny): · John told me one of his stupid jokes, and it took me about five minutes to get it.get the point (=understand the main idea or importance of something): · I don't think you get the point. Legally, you must give us this information.get the idea: · The students should get the idea that this is a complex issue, with no easy answers.get what/why/how etc: · I just couldn't get what he meant.
formal to understand something that is complicated or difficult to understand: · Take the time to read, comprehend, and evaluate the report.· God cannot truly be seen or comprehended by the human mind.fully comprehend (=understand something completely): · The significance of the disappearance of the buffalo and the passenger pigeon was not fully comprehended until much later.
to fully understand a fact or an idea, especially one that it is important or difficult to understand: · Obviously, she had barely grasped the subject.· Science lessons should be taught in a way that makes the material easier to grasp.hard to grasp: · Fame has come suddenly, and Peyton is finding it hard to grasp.grasp that: · The army had failed to grasp that their mission was to protect the navy's ships, not vice versa.
to understand something that is not clear or easy to understand, especially by spending time thinking about it: · Police are trying to make sense of a bizarre note left by the murderer.· There is so much information that it is difficult to make sense of it all.
informal to understand what someone is telling you or what they want you to do, especially after they have told you several times: · Even the Democrats got the message: voters are concerned about taxes.get the message that: · He doesn't seem to get the message that he's not welcome here.
spoken to understand a situation or arrangement, especially one that someone is explaining to you: · I get the picture. You want me to say you were at my house last night.· We don't want any trouble tonight. Do you get the picture?
British informal to understand something that is difficult or complicated: · I just couldn't get my head round geometry at school.
to understand how someone feels to understand how someone feels, and feel sympathy for them, especially when they are upset or have problems: · I'm sure your teacher will understand.understand how/what/why etc: · I understand how you feel, but I still think you should apologize to her.
especially spoken to understand how someone feels and why they feel that way, especially because the reasons are very clear: see why/how/what: · You can see why Clare was so annoyed, can't you?see that: · I can see that you'd find that upsetting.
formal to understand clearly how someone feels or what problems they have: · Congress did not appreciate the amount of anger that people felt about this issue.· Parents have to find ways to show their children that they appreciate their feelings and reactions.appreciate (that): · I appreciate that it's not easy for you, but you must try to get here on time.
to understand how someone feels, because you have had the same feelings or experiences yourself: · I know how you feel. I couldn't watch either - it was too upsetting.know how it feels (to do something): · Believe me, I know how it feels to lose.
say this when you want someone to imagine they are in the same situation as another person, so that they can understand how the other person feels: · Well, put yourself in her place. Would you like it if someone did that to you?
feelings or attitudes that are understandable , especially feelings of anger, annoyance, or fear, do not surprise you because you can see that there are good reasons for them: · That teachers are annoyed about having so much extra paperwork is understandable.· There is understandable anger among the victims' families.it is understandable that: · It's understandable that she doesn't want to see Bill again.
to understand each part of a story, explanation etc to understand a story, explanation, or talk that continues for a long time: · I had difficulty following the story - there are so many different characters.difficult/hard/easy to follow: · The lecture was very hard to follow.
informal to have understood everything so far in an explanation that someone is giving: · I'm sorry but I'm not with you. Could you explain that part again?· Then you press this button. Are you with me so far?
to manage to understand each part of something, especially a very long or complicated explanation or story: · She covers so much in these lectures -- I don't know how you manage to keep up. keep up with: · It's a complicated film, and some people may find it hard to keep up with the plot.
to understand new facts after studying them to understand new information, especially when there is a large amount of it or when it is difficult to understand, by thinking about it carefully for a fairly long time: · The pub went silent as the villagers digested the news.· By the end of the day, I had a lot of new information to digest.
to understand and remember new facts or information: take something in: · I'm not going to my next class. I'm too tired to take anything in.take in what/why/how etc: · I don't think she really took in what I was telling her.take in something: · She listened attentively, taking in every word he said and asking questions.
to understand a large amount of new information: · Most people need to read something more than once to absorb all the ideas.· He appeared to understand, but whether he absorbed every detail I cannot say.· A new baby has an enormous capacity for absorbing new information.
to understand and use new information or ideas quickly and easily: · The person we are looking for must be flexible, creative, and able to assimilate new ideas.· When a child is learning something new, they try to assimilate it in terms of what they already know.
if a fact, information etc sinks in , you gradually understand it: · He paused to let this news sink in.· I've been revising all day but I don't think much of it has sunk in.
to understand the meaning of something in a particular way to believe that something strange, difficult, or unusual has a particular meaning: · Have you read Dawson's letter? What do you make of it?· Tom could see that McCarron didn't know what to make of the information.
to think that a remark, an action, an event etc shows that someone has a particular opinion or feeling even though they do not say this directly: · Good managers are usually able to read a situation quickly and take the right action.read something as something: · Men shouldn't be surprised if women read this behaviour as threatening.
to choose to understand a particular meaning in someone's words or actions without being sure that this is the correct meaning: · There was a pause, which he took to mean she was angry.· Television producers should not take low ratings to mean failure.
to understand a remark, a piece of writing, an event etc as having a particular meaning, especially because of your own feelings, opinions, or situation: · I see this poem as an attack on social injustice.· Young children often see the birth of a new brother or sister as a great threat.
to choose to understand a piece of information or group of facts in one of several possible ways: · Fairy tales can be interpreted in several different ways.interpret something as something: · The statement was interpreted as a threat against the United States.
to find a particular meaning in an expression or in the name of something, even though other people may understand it differently: · What do you understand by the term "alternative medicine"?· He spoke of profits, by which I understood profits for his company, not for us.
to think that someone's remarks, a word, a piece of writing etc means something or has a particular message, even though this is not stated directly: · "It's very good. You'll like it," their mother said, and gave them a look that they understood to mean they must eat it whether they liked it or not.
formal to understand a remark or action in a particular way, when there are other possible ways of understanding it: · Such activities by the Americans could be construed as an act of war.· Films that could be construed as offensive are shown after nine o'clock.
to begin to understand something to slowly begin to understand a situation or someone's feelings, because you get more information or because you experience something for yourself: · I think it will be a long time before we even begin to understand how damaging the effect has been.· Patients are given written information and videos so that they can begin to understand more about their condition.begin to understand that: · I was beginning to understand that being alone could be terribly depressing.begin to understand why/how/what etc: · As we walked up the narrow staircases, we began to understand why the Dutch haul their furniture up the outside of the buildings and through the windows.
informal to begin to understand something that is not easy to understand: · Thomas isn't catching on as quickly as some of the other children.catch on to: · It took Jennifer a long time to catch on to the fact that Mary was taking advantage of her.catch on fast/quickly: · She catches on fast and will soon be promoted.
spoken to finally understand something, especially after it has been explained to you several times: · Okay, I get it. You only get paid if you sell at least ten copies.· "So the plant takes in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen." "That's it. You've got it."
to think about something until you understand it, especially something complicated: · Horgan thought he had it all figured out, but he hadn't.figure/work something out: · In case you haven't figured it out yet, we've been tricked.figure/work out how/why/what etc: · Detectives are still trying to work out what happened.
British informal to begin to understand a situation by what you see and hear around you, and not by being told directly: · Oh, I get it, I've twigged at last. How much do you want?twig that: · At last I twigged that I was pregnanttwig why/where/what etc: · It took him about two minutes to twig what I was going on about!
informal to begin to understand a situation by what you see and hear around you, and not by being told directly: cotton on to: · It took him a while to cotton on to what was happening.· Large stores have at last cottoned on to the fact that mothers with pushchairs can't cope with stairs.
if something clicks , especially something you are learning, you suddenly begin to understand it: · Just keep working at it, and suddenly it will all click.
if several facts fall into place , you begin to understand how they are connected and why each one is important, so that you understand a whole situation or subject: · Once the police received this new evidence, things began falling into place.
when you understand something when you understand something, especially a piece of spoken or written language, or the ability to do this: · The teacher gave us a comprehension test.· We tried to explain the causes of the war at a child's level of comprehension.reading comprehension (=ability to understand what you read): · You need to practise your reading comprehension more.beyond somebody's comprehension (=too difficult to understand): · He was caught up in frightening events far beyond his comprehension.
when you understand a situation, subject, idea etc, or someone's ability to do this: · A much greater level of understanding is required to carry out more complex experiments.understanding of: · He seems to have very little understanding of economics.· The research may lead to a better understanding of how the disease develops.
the ability to understand or realize something new about a subject or to more clearly understand the nature of a problem, situation, or subject etc: · Crick soon established himself as a scientist of great insight and creativity.insight into: · We help troubled teenagers gain some insight into their own problems.
easy to understand · The instructions are easy to follow.· On cards are five easy to follow recipes for you to cut out and keep.· We try to write it in language that is easy to understand.
instructions, explanations etc that are clear are explained in easy language or stages and are therefore easy to understand: · Most of the 'help' messages you get on computers aren't at all clear to ordinary home users.· Thanks for your directions to the apartment - they were really clear and we had no problems finding it.· Perhaps I didn't make myself clear - there won't be a penny of extra money for this project.
something that is comprehensible is easy to understand because it does not contain any complicated information and is expressed in very clear language: · Visual aids can make lessons much more interesting and comprehensible.· Each entry in the guide is brief and immediately comprehensible.comprehensible to: · The music was experimental, and not comprehensible to the average concert-goer.
something that is intelligible , such as a subject you study or a piece of writing or speech, is fairly easy to understand: · Her English was strongly accented but quite intelligible.intelligible to: · It is sometimes difficult to discuss medical issues in a way that is intelligible to ordinary people.
books, films, information etc that are accessible are written or made in a way that is easy to understand even though they may concern subjects that are complicated: · Philip Glass has produced something very rare -- an accessible modern opera.· I don't find James Joyce's writing very accessible.accessible to: · He was specifically asked to write a play that would be accessible to the local community.
a piece of writing or speech that is coherent is easy to understand because it is clear and well-planned, so that all the parts fit well together: · I was so confused that I could not give a coherent answer.· Rescuers found Campbell, who was conscious and coherent.· History could be defined as a coherent account of an event.
to not understand something correctly to think that someone means one thing when in fact they mean something else: · I think she misunderstood you.· I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood.· According to Bennett, you misunderstood the reason you were dropped from the list.
a problem caused when someone does not understand something correctly: · There seems to have been a misunderstanding. I didn't order steak.· Cultural differences between people from different countries can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
to not understand the true meaning of someone's actions or words, so that you believe something that is not in fact true: · Your friendliness could easily be misinterpreted.· A lot of people misinterpreted what I was saying, and have called me a racist.
to wrongly believe that someone's actions show that they have a particular opinion or feeling: · Unfortunately, we misread the situation and lost a lot of sales.· The intelligence community was criticized for misreading Iraq's intentions.
if you miss the point , you think you understand what someone says or what is important about a situation, but in fact you are wrong: · I soon realised that he had completely missed the point.· He's so caught up in the rules that he's missing the point of the game, which is just to have fun.
to be offended or upset by a remark that was not intended to offend or upset you, because you understood it wrongly: · Don't tell Simon that -- he might take it the wrong way.· No, that's not what I meant. You take everything the wrong way.don't take this the wrong way (=say this when you want to give advice or ask something that you think might offend someone): · Don't take this the wrong way, but could I stay at your place tonight?
British an informal expression meaning to make a mistake about one part of something that you are told, so that you understand the rest of it in completely the wrong way: · Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick. I thought she was leaving him, not the other way round.
if two people are at cross-purposes , each of them thinks that they understand what the other is talking about, when in fact they are talking about two different things: · I think we're at cross purposes -- I'm talking about John, not Nigel.
spoken say this when you do not want someone to understand something wrongly or be upset by what you say: · I like Jenny, don't get me wrong, but I do think she acts a little childishly at times.· Don't get me wrong, I love my family, I just don't want to be with them all the time.
British spoken to suddenly be unable to understand what is happening in a situation, especially when people expect you to understand and deal with it: · In the past few days the President seems to have completely lost the plot.
to not understand · They didn't understand a single word she said.· Tell me if you don't understand.· She thought about getting a divorce, but she knew her children would never understand.· He made a few references to the CIA and national security, which Wilson did not understand.not understand why/how/what/where · I really can't understand why so many people like her music.
also can't makes heads or tails (out) of American informal to be unable to understand something at all because it is very complicated or confusing: · I just can't make head or tail of this train timetable.· I couldn't make head or tail of this book, and had real trouble finishing it.· Consumers can't always make heads or tails out of the way nutrition is labeled on a food package.
to be much too complicated or technical for someone to understand: · It was obvious from her expression that what I was saying was over her head.be way/completely over somebody's head: · I went to the lecture, but it was way over my head.
to be involved in a situation or activity which is too difficult for you to understand: · She was out of her depth in the advanced class, so they moved her to the intermediate class.be way/completely out of your depth: · I tried to read the report, but I was way out of my depth.
to still not understand something after someone has tried to explain it to you: · I've read the manual but I'm still none the wiser.leave somebody none the wiser: · His explanations of how it worked left me none the wiser.
spoken to not understand the reason for something: don't/can't see why/how/what/where: · I didn't see how they could sell it so cheaply.· I can't see why you think it's any of your business.
spoken say this when you cannot understand why something happens or how someone does something, and you find it very surprising: be a mystery to me/be beyond me/beats me how/what/why etc: · It's a mystery to me how he can get so much work done in such a short time.· Why anyone would willingly do that job is beyond me.it beats me/it's beyond me etc.: · "Why does she stay with her husband then?" "It beats me."
you say I can't think or I can't imagine how or why someone does something when you cannot think of any reasonable explanation why someone should do it, and are very surprised that they do: I can't think/can't imagine why/how etc: · He wants to join the army -- I can't think why.· How such a stupid man ever got to be a politician, I just can't imagine.
difficult or impossible to understand a puzzling situation makes you feel confused, because you have tried to understand it or explain it, but you cannot: · The police are investigating the puzzling death of a man found on the freeway.· Alzheimer's disease is one of medicine's most puzzling and feared illnesses.· The fact that many people still do not understand this basic concept is both puzzling and troubling.
extremely difficult or impossible to understand, and therefore making you feel extremely confused: · To an ordinary person, the legal arguments were baffling.· New evidence has provided a clue to one of the most baffling crimes the police have had to deal with.
impossible to understand: · His English was incomprehensible.it is incomprehensible that: · It is incomprehensible that a tragedy like this could be joked about.incomprehensible to: · The leaflet was written in jargon that would have been totally incomprehensible to anyone outside the profession.
speech or writing that is unintelligible is impossible to understand because it is not clear, simple, or well planned: · Joe muttered something unintelligible, clasping his head in his hands.· Radio transmissions were often cut off or unintelligible.
incoherent speech is very difficult to understand, especially because the person who is speaking is drunk, ill, or very angry: · Harris gave rambling, incoherent answers to questions about the case.· She was clearly very ill, and at times her speech was incoherent.
a statement, joke, or idea that is obscure is very difficult to understand because the meaning is not clear unless it is carefully explained to you: · Best's art is eccentric and obscure.· Publishers would not print his earlier poetry because they felt it was too obscure.
to feel sorry because someone else is in a bad situation to feel sad for someone because they have had bad luck or they are in a bad situation: · I think he felt sorry for me because I'd just lost my wallet.· He'll probably go to jail for this. It's his wife I feel sorry for.· I feel sorry for the poor person who's going to have to sort this mess out.· I feel really sorry for young married couples these days. It's hard going for them.can't help feeling sorry for somebody (=use this when you should not really feel sorry for someone, but you do): · I know he's being a jerk, but I can't help feeling a little sorry for him.
also sympathise British to feel sad for someone who is having problems, because you understand how they feel: · My dear, I completely understand and sympathize, but there's not much I can do about it, really.sympathize with: · She felt Mark should have sympathised with her and supported her, instead of criticizing. sympathize with somebody's plight/problems/dilemma: · It's hard not to sympathize with the plight of single parents in today's world.
to feel sad for someone who is having problems, because you understand how they feel: · I have great sympathy for anyone who has lived through depression.· It wasn't possible not to feel sympathy for Anna -- she'd lost her husband and her son in the space of only a few weeks.have/feel deep sympathy for: · The judge said he had the deepest sympathy for Maria's situation, but that he had no option but to sentence her.
to sympathize very strongly and sincerely with someone who has problems, is suffering etc: · Of course I feel for him - he's my brother. But he did bring it on himself.· You couldn't help but feel for Charles. He'd been so unlucky in life.
to feel very sorry for someone who is in a much worse situation than you: · I pity anyone who has to feed a family on such a low income.· I don't want you to pity me - I just want you to help me.· He felt pity for Marla out there all by herself in some little nowhere town.
spoken use this to say that you feel extremely sorry for someone, especially because something very sad has happened to them: · I know how awfully disappointed you must be, and my heart goes out to you.· My heart went out to all those poor little children standing shivering in the cold.
to feel sorry for someone and do something to help them: · The old couple, poor as they were, took pity on her and gave her food.· We walked on through the pouring rain until a kind driver took pity on us and offered us a ride.
to realize that someone is unhappy or having problems, and behave kindly to them: · I'm sure if you talk to your boss, he'll understand.· You can only apologize, and hope that she'll understand.understand why/what/how: · I completely understand how things are when money is tight.· We're trying very hard to understand what she's going through.
to let someone know something without telling them directly to let someone know something without telling them directly, for example by behaving in a particular way or by telling someone else who you know will then tell the person: · The Queen made her displeasure known by cancelling her visit.make your feelings/views/wishes known: · People without the right to vote were often able to make their feelings known through demonstrations or riots.make it known that: · The other boys in Steven's class took every opportunity to make it known that he was not accepted.
formal to make someone think that something is true, or that something will happen, but without actually saying this clearly: · A friend of your daughter's gave us to understand that you lived in Michigan.· Although I received no official indication, I was given to understand that I would be promoted within a year.
if someone lets you know something shocking, bad, or unkind, but not in so many words , they let you know that it is true without saying it directly: · "Did Sarah tell you she was leaving?" "Not in so many words, no."
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY How the drug works isn’t fully understood. I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES That’s rather difficult for me to explain. He’s finding it difficult to get a job. It’s easily recognised by its bright blue tail feathers. He had led everyone to believe that his family was very wealthy. The hotel was terrible, and not at all what we had been led to expect.
(=make what you say clear to other people, especially when speaking a foreign language) I’m not very good at German, but I can make myself understood.
I’m not very good at German, but I can make myself understood. How the drug works isn’t fully understood. I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.· The class will help you understand the basic concepts of physics.
That’s rather difficult for me to explain. He’s finding it difficult to get a job. It’s easily recognised by its bright blue tail feathers.· Other people didn’t seem to understand the extent of his disability.
He had led everyone to believe that his family was very wealthy. The hotel was terrible, and not at all what we had been led to expect. (=not known about by many people) a little known corner of the world
a little known corner of the world· I could not understand the logic of her actions.
· The pictures help the children understand the meanings of the words.
· I’m sorry, I don’t understand your point.
· The press was slow to grasp the significance of what had happened.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Now that I know that George was not his father I can better understand why they always clashed.· I want to understand better why I quit.· Now he has had a chance to work with them and perhaps better understands the intricacies of their job.· S Department of Defense in the hopes of understanding better the concept of deception.· One feels guilty about not having understood better what was going on.· Promote effective two-way communication between employees at all levels to understand better the problems and concerns that affect productivity; 7.· It does help our chances of success however, if we can better understand why reef fish are aggressive towards each other.· Perhaps in the future we may come to better understand more complex processes, such as memory and learning.
· Within these two sentences, the situation is easily understood and explained.· If this problem were easily understood or amenable to fast solutions, there would be few work-inhibited students.· Bosses still had to be bosses when the occasion required but that was understood easily and early.· What is happening is most easily understood in terms of the wave picture of light.· From a wave point of view this is easily understood.· Meteor Crater is easily understood as the result of a surface impact of a body bearing about fifteen megatons of energy.· Reality is sometimes too complex to understand easily.· The modern trial is a contest in which justice is defined in easily understood, monetary terms-dollars.
· Diana was sympathetic, but did not fully understand his unrest, nor his frantic soul-searching.· Instead, when fully understood, the apparent contradiction may reveal a new causal factor that was not considered before.· Most errors in radiocarbon dating arise because the excavator has not fully understood the formation processes of the context in question.· Things that before had been mysterious are now fully understood.· The technical question of how far the biological continuity between man and other animals is already fully understood is complex.· So I fully understand and am in compliance with that kind of feeling.· I don't fully understand why he does so much to distance me.· For some reason we do not fully understand, the blotched tabby cat was a winner.
· To understand how engineers are preparing for earthquakes, one needs to know a little about how buildings behave when shaken.· And so now, perhaps, you will understand how it is and has always been with us.· I do not understand how so many Black men stay sane, look after their children and strive to walk beside them.· They want leaders to spend time helping them understand how change can happen.· Again we must delve back in history to understand how we got to this position.· For now, the Raiders have something to enjoy, but they understand how quickly that can fade.· I don't understand how anyone so musical can hum so out of tune with himself.· I can understand how the school thing would be a problem for them.
· There was much about the Spencer children that I would never understand, especially their relationship with Raine.· Never understood why Dandy Dan picked him but from all the others.· He'd never understand women, he thought.· We never understood them, and that was another surprise.· The sergeant could never understand rich people with imperfect features who did not spend money on cosmetic surgery.· He never understood her moral ignorance so well before.· Nevertheless, as combat approached, the pilots became intensely alive in a way that Skull could always recognise but never understand.· Everything had changed for me, and words that I had never understood before suddenly began to make sense.
· In reality, most attorneys have made almost no preparation for this phase and do not really understand it.· Of all the servants, the only one who really understood my need to do things for myself was Koju.· Start with the very simplest pattern, possibly imitating Card No. 1 to make sure that you really understand the system.· It took me four years to really understand the business and begin to turn it around.· Some one who really understands me and knows all my secrets.· Both are nuts, leave a bad taste and no one really understands why this tradition continues.· I still meet research managers from other businesses who feel that their companies don't really understand or want them.· He really understands how to sell things.
· I can't understand why Mum hates her.· He never could understand why Morgan was so good, why she moved him so.· But a spokesman said that while the authority had every sympathy for Richard it understood why the school had expelled him.· On the other hand, we understand why you would prefer not to see usable food go down the garbage disposal.· He could not understand why he should not put them in the moats.· Excavators have been reluctant to put dates to their finds and one can understand why. carbon dating being expensive.· I understand why the Government have maintained an exemption for small businesses, for which survival is of the essence.· I couldn't understand why they bothered to take him on, because he hadn't won anything for years.
NOUN· The story has to be decoded in order to understand its meaning.· Children understand your meaning by perceiving the tone of your voice.· Seek confirmation that the other party understands your meaning.· If we can understand the identity of the criteria of sameness of use, then we can understand the sameness of meaning.· This tension between change and continuity is the key to understanding the inner meaning as opposed to the outward form of working-class sport.· You will use your powers of anticipation and imagination to read between the lines, to understand message and meaning.· Even so, those with grace always know how to be graceful and she would probably understand the true meaning of the gesture.· I understood their meaning and was full of jealousy.
· For everyone there is a problem in understanding the nature of the crime when no motive can be identified.· Therefore, self-understanding comes to have a transformative effect on our understanding of the nature of reality.· As we have discussed, there is now available a conceptual framework for adequately understanding the changing nature of contemporary civil society.· The overriding goal of this chapter is to understand the nature of markets and how prices and outputs are determined.· How then could we ever understand the nature and functioning of the whole belt?· One can understand why a cheerful nature is important.· Consent means that the patient must be capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of the proposed treatments.· He very likely does not understand the nature of the risk that he describes.
· Managers will need help to understand people's needs during a period of transition and also their own reactions to change.· Of all the servants, the only one who really understood my need to do things for myself was Koju.· You must make him understand the need for secrecy.· He understood the need to eat.· NatWest understands your needs and is pleased to help.· On board there was now a widespread and unspoken understanding of the need to husband our resources.· That's because I understand her needs and I don't make demands.· Which people in which jobs understand the need for and nature of the changes at hand?
· Some fresh approach to understanding the management problems in secondary schools could be much needed after the upheavals of 1985/86.· More research needs to be done to attempt to understand these problems but statistical modelling is not appropriate.· She begins to understand the health problems of having too many kids.· Peer pressure was a key factor in understanding the problem, he said.· Based on this experience they came to an understanding of a fundamental problem of flight: control.· Professionals often intervene before they understand the problem in full and so fail.· His own rise from the bottom of the heap guarantees that he understands problems of a class-ridden society, he tells audiences.
· As long as you understand the process, it will all come together, whatever the terms and instructions.· They understood statistical process control, total quality customer service, reengineering, and the economics and finance of film manufacturing.· What had to be understood was the process which led to the evolution of society seen in this new light.· Regardless of how fantastic our political visions are, it is important to understand the processes of political communication that support them.· Like de Schweinitz, Moore seeks to understand the relationship between processes of economic development and political form through comparing few countries.· Must gain an understanding of the political process.· In order to understand the process, the study focuses upon important incidents that subjects can recall or are experiencing.· Before beginning the proposal writing task, an overall understanding of the research process is essential to the writer.
· The reason, quite simply, is that pruning is little understood - again that word why.· Neither of them understood the words but the music represented all that was fair and just.· It became clear to them that she had understood their every word.· He doubted that the policeman had understood a word he had said.· You could understand every word when I was singing.· But this time - and the photographer couldn't understand why - the words had less effect.· Other symptoms of dyslexia can include difficulty in writing, calculating or even understanding the spoken word.
VERB· It was only now she began to understand her cruelty.· I began to understand why they gave you a talk before they give you the money.· Philip himself now began to understand Innocent better.· But after seeing the tomographic maps, researchers began to understand why the continents had no effect.· Creed began to understand why Evelyn had imposed a diet.· And you might begin to understand the scale of the problem.· During the early school years, a child can begin to understand the physical basis for some of his feelings.
· No one who had ever struggled in the mire as she had, could fail to understand.· Even ten years later, he felt the sting of the rebuke, the motive for which he still fails to understand.· In all probability he failed to understand the consequences of his actions.· If they failed to understand the settled peasants, the latter returned the compliment.· Student leaders accuse him of failing to understand the system.· The two men failed to understand each other.· Mysticism is the product of those who fail to understand, the substitute for comprehension and the margarine of philosophy.· She is described by the Argive elders as speaking in riddles because they fail to understand her predictions.
· It helps you understand other people's tasks, avoid problems and keep in mind that crucial overview I spoke of earlier.· He was clear about what he wanted, but gave the dancers evocative images to help them understand and deepen their interpretations.· The historical background provided in this chapter helps us understand some of these diagnoses as well as some of the prescriptions.· They want leaders to spend time helping them understand how change can happen.· Gardens A garden is useful in helping the children to understand space comparisons and the seasons.· It helps me to understand things.· Having done the job myself, it helps me to understand that departments are being asked to review everything continuously.· She helps the girls understand issues such as puberty, hygiene, boys, crime, and drugs.
· We also seek wisdom when we try to deepen our understanding of what the world is like.· Users need not spend their time trying to understand where something is.· I must say it was a great relief not to have to try to understand it all from books.· Let us try to understand the basics of special relativity in terms of the magnificent space-time of Minkowski.· Not content with stars and galaxies, they try to understand the whole universe, its provenance and fate.· Now, and not later, I will try to understand.· We are all aware of the problems of trying to understand a complex document written for a specialist audience.· He calmed himself, trying to understand why he was imprisoned and who was responsible.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► can’t begin to understand/imagine etc
- We understood his lack of response to mean "no."
- Accent, tone, fluency and vocabulary can affect the ability of sender and receiver to understand or to be understood.
- After a while-it seemed like an eternity-Philip usually acknowledged that he understood what needed to be accomplished.
- Barmy anyway, which is what I understand you to mean.
- Hicks understood it to mean Those Who Are.
- Homosexuals have as much right to be understood, to be treated with compassionate love as the rest of us.
- Isabel had always understood Faith to mean that she should have it.
- Must you really understand duration to be a savvy investor?
- To understand is to be betrayed.
- I am very pushed for money, Alice - do you understand that?
- I loved him, do you understand?
- I owe nothing to anybody, not gratitude or anything else, do you understand me?
- Oliver I have to be near her, do you understand?
- Question, do you understand what it means to terminate the employment at will?
- What do they understand of the temples themselves rising nearby?
- What do you understand of my situation or my mind?
- You are mine, do you understand? mine.
- A friend of your daughter's gave us to understand that you lived in Michigan.
- Although I received no official indication, I was given to understand that I would be promoted within a year.
- A parting sniff as she left the room gave the gentleman to understand that he had disappointed her.
- Colonel Fergusson had long since given up trying to understand the business.
- He gave me to understand that the bamboo beetle would soon be killed off by the sea air.
- He gave up trying to understand it and vowed to harden himself more.
- Sergeant Bramble and Constable Quince very quickly gave up trying to understand what it was that the experts were looking for.
- She gave him to understand that her city was his as well as she herself.
- From childhood, it was understood your parents would choose your husband.
- As such they have to be understood with nuances of influence and control often benign but sometimes narrow in focus.
- Briefly, as we shall devote a section to each below, these categories are understood in the following way.
- He is understood to be on police bail after his arrest on Tuesday.
- It is understood that a number of applications for advance clearance under s 707 for such arrangements have been refused.
- The first meaning should be understood as the inspiration which has urged the choreographer to create.
- The gifts will rather be understood from the point of view of the sinful self that seeks only self-gratification and status.
- The less that was known about the political officer's activities, the less was understood about his responsibility for events.
- The notion of transparent reporting which can be understood by the untutored layman is a chimera.
- I fail to see the humor in this situation.
- How presumptuous my claims to knowledge based only on what I see, leaving out what I fail to see.
- However I fail to see firstly what you are trying to prove with your figures.
- Last year? I failed to see the connection.
- All I had to do was got to know his taste in food.
- Come to think of it, he'd seemed rather a decent chap, some one it might be worth getting to know.
- He got to know Bill Clinton quite well when they were together at Oxford as Rhodes scholars.
- I would like to get to know customers well 8.
- It was one of Brian's three daughters, Karen, who got to know Kirsty.
- Mrs Nowak and Taczek must have got to know most of the truth and stuck by the cover story.
- She had seen a leaflet about the YCs and thought that this would provide a good way of getting to know people.
- So I got, I sort of got to know her.
- A parting sniff as she left the room gave the gentleman to understand that he had disappointed her.
- But he had also given her time to think what she was doing.
- But the knotted tensions between people and groups of people give us plenty to think about.
- He would have given anything to believe that Isambard was lying.
- Ireland would be given something new to think about.
- It obviously gave him plenty to think about.
- She'd given more time to thinking about Lucy than anything else for months.
- As we will soon see, the inability to make oneself understood properly was at the root of the crisis in Vicos.
- But only one side was making itself heard.
- Hardly a practicable solution when she didn't even know if she could make herself understood.
- He makes himself known with a tiny, metallic clink-clink-clink from within the bushes.
- I yelled to make myself heard above the deafening roar of the wind and the sea.
- To leave was to admit defeat in this peculiar ritual of making myself known.
- Yet lay people had almost no way of making themselves heard in Rome.
- If you are overweight, then you know what it means to be in emotional pain.
- Do not believe a word of it.
- For the rest of the journey Maria prattled on about Bradford, but Ruth did not hear a word.
- However, it also shows that they are not very useful, for Hera did not believe a word of it.
- I kept it up until I was certain you were not hearing a word.
- To date I've not heard word one about such a plague in the Czech Republic.
- We had not heard a word about my father all this time.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveunderstandableunderstandingmisunderstoodnoununderstanding ≠ misunderstandingverbunderstand ≠ misunderstandadverbunderstandably
1meaning [intransitive, transitive] to know the meaning of what someone is telling you, or the language that they speak: She doesn’t understand English. I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Can you explain that again? The woman had a strong accent, and I couldn’t understand what she was saying.make yourself understood (=make what you say clear to other people, especially when speaking a foreign language) I’m not very good at German, but I can make myself understood.2fact/idea [intransitive, transitive] to know or realize how a fact, process, situation etc works, especially through learning or experience: I don’t really understand the political situation in Egypt.understand how/why/where etc You don’t need to understand how computers work to be able to use them. How the drug works isn’t fully understood.understand (that) I understand that this treatment may not work.3person/feelings [intransitive, transitive] to realize how someone feels and why they behave the way they do, and to be sympathetic: My parents just don’t understand me. Just tell him how you feel – I’m sure he’ll understand.understand how/what etc I understand how you feel, but I think you’re overreacting.(can) understand somebody doing something I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.4believe/think [transitive] to believe or think that something is true because you have heard it or read itunderstand (that) ‘I understand that he was 62 when he died,’ McLeish said.it is understood (that) It is understood that the Queen approves of her nephew’s romance.be understood to be (doing) something Dillons is understood to be reorganising the company’s management structure.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you say it is understood that when saying what people in general believe is true: · It is understood that an agreement will be signed today.5give somebody to understand (that) formal to make someone believe that something is true, going to happen etc, without telling them this directly: I was given to understand that the property was in good condition.6be understood (that) formal if something is understood, everyone knows it, or has agreed to it, and there is no need to discuss it: From childhood it was understood that your parents would choose your husband.7understand something to be/mean something to accept something as having a particular meaning: In this document, ‘children’ is understood to mean people under 14.8do you understand? spoken used when you are telling someone what they should or should not do, especially when you are angry with them: Never speak to me like that again! Do you understand?GRAMMAR: Using the progressiveUnderstand is not used in the progressive. You say: · I understand what you’re saying. ✗Don’t say: I’m understanding what you’re saying.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSTHESAURUSunderstand to know the meaning of something, or the reasons for something: · I understand what you’re saying.· Doctors are beginning to understand what causes the disease.see especially spoken to understand something, especially the truth about a situation or the reasons for something: · I can see why you don’t like him.· Do you see what I mean?· Oh, I see!get informal to understand a joke, what someone says, the reasons why something is true etc: · She didn’t seem to get the joke.· Do you get me?· He explained the math homework twice, but I still don’t get it.· I still don’t get why she left.comprehend formal to understand something, or understand why something is important: · The dream was easy to describe, but difficult to comprehend.· They had failed to comprehend the significance of the problem.know what somebody means spoken to understand what someone is telling you, or what a situation is like, especially because you have some experience or knowledge about this: · ‘It can be really hard to give up smoking.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean.’· We now know what the scientists meant when they warned about global warming.follow to understand something such as an explanation or story as you hear it, read it etc: · The plot is hard to follow.· His instructions were easy to follow.to understand something difficultgrasp to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one: · Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp.· I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.fathom /ˈfæðəm/ formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it: · She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.make sense of something to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it: · People are still trying to make sense of the news.can’t make head nor tail of something spoken used when something seems impossible to understand: · I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.