Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense understands, present participle understanding, past tense, past participle understood
1. verb [no cont]
If you understand someone or understand what they are saying, you know what they mean.
I think you heard and also understand me. [VERB noun]
Rusty nodded as though she understood the old woman. [VERB noun]
I don't understand what you are talking about. [VERB wh]
He was speaking poor English, trying to make himself understood. [make pron-refl V-ed]
2. verb [no cont]
If you understand a language, you know what someone is saying when they are speaking that language.
I couldn't read or understand a word of Yiddish, so I asked him to translate. [VERB noun]
3. verb [no cont]
To understand someone means to know how they feel and why they behave in the way that they do.
It would be nice to have someone who really understood me, a friend. [VERB noun]
Trish had not exactly understood his feelings. [VERB noun]
She understands why I get tired and grumpy. [VERB wh]
Synonyms: sympathize with, appreciate, be aware of, be able to see More Synonyms of understand
4. verb [no cont]
You say that you understand something when you know why or how it happens.
They are too young to understand what is going on. [VERB wh]
She didn't understand why the TV was kept out of reach of the patients. [VERB wh]
It is worth making the effort to understand how investment trusts work. [VERB noun]
5. verb [no cont]
If you understand that something is the case, you think it is true because you have heard or read that it is. You can say that something is understood to be the case to mean that people generally think it is true.
We understand that she's in the studio recording her second album. [VERB that]
I understand you've heard about David. [VERB that]
The idea, as I understand it, is to make science more relevant. [VERBit]
The management is understood to be very unwilling to agree to this request. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
It is understood that the veteran reporter had a heart attack. [beVERB-ed that]
Synonyms: believe, hear, learn, gather More Synonyms of understand
6.
See give someone to understand
7.
See do you understand/is that understood
More Synonyms of understand
understand in British English
(ˌʌndəˈstænd)
verbWord forms: -stands, -standing or -stood
1. (may take a clause as object)
to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
I understand you
I understand what you mean
2. (may take a clause as object)
to realize or grasp (something)
he understands your position
3. (tr; may take a clause as object)
to assume, infer, or believe
I understand you are thinking of marrying
4. (transitive)
to know how to translate or read
can you understand Spanish?
5. (tr; may take a clause as object; often passive)
to accept as a condition or proviso
it is understood that children must be kept quiet
6. (transitive)
to be sympathetic to or compatible with
we understand each other
Derived forms
understandable (ˌunderˈstandable)
adjective
understandably (ˌunderˈstandably)
adverb
Word origin
Old English understandan; related to Old Frisian understonda, Middle High German understān step under; see under, stand
understand in American English
(ˌʌndərˈstænd)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌunderˈstood or ˌunderˈstanding
1.
to get or perceive the meaning of; know or grasp what is meant by; comprehend
to understand a question
2.
to gather or assume from what is heard, known, etc.; infer
are we to understand that you want to go?
3.
to take as meant or meaning; interpret
to understand his silence as refusal
4.
to take for granted or as a fact
it is understood that no one is to leave
5.
to supply mentally (an idea, word, etc.), as for grammatical completeness
6.
to get as information; learn
7.
to know thoroughly; grasp or perceive clearly and fully the nature, character, functioning, etc. of
8.
to have a sympathetic rapport with
no one understands me
verb intransitive
9.
to have understanding, comprehension, sympathetic awareness, etc., either in general or with reference to something specific
10.
to be informed; believe
he is, I understand, no longer here
SYNONYMY NOTE: understand, comprehend are used interchangeably to imply clear perception of the meaning of something, but,more precisely, , understand stresses the full awareness or knowledge arrived at, and , comprehend, the process of grasping something mentally [one may comprehend the words in an idiom without understanding at all what is meant]; appreciate implies sensitive, discriminating perception of the exact worth or value of something[to appreciate the difficulties of a situation]
Derived forms
understandable (ˌunderˈstandable)
adjective
understandably (ˌunderˈstandably)
adverb
Word origin
ME understanden < OE understandan, lit., to stand among, hence observe, understand
Examples of 'understand' in a sentence
understand
Network people are having to understand more about how the applications work.
Computing (2010)
They cannot instruct their vehicle in a language it understands.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Make sure he understands that would mean no further contact with the girlfriend.
The Sun (2016)
It annoys her that the left talk a good game about understanding poverty but have no idea.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It speaks to youth in a language they understand.
The Sun (2016)
Staff should be asked to sign a copy to confirm that they have read and understood the contents.
Computing (2010)
The moon visits the psychic sector of your chart to help you read minds and understand why people think as they do.
The Sun (2016)
As a father I know you will understand how we feel as a family.
The Sun (2016)
The Pluto effect helps you read minds and understand others' feelings.
The Sun (2016)
There were times in my life when I didn't feel known or understood.
The Sun (2016)
There is something important to understand about making predictions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We have to speak a language they understand.
Christianity Today (2000)
You can read minds and understand what a partner wants from you.
The Sun (2011)
How do you set about understanding and making yourself understood?
Hindess, Barry Choice, Rationality, and Social Theory (1988)
We can only really understand what we know and what we have experienced.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This means they understand that people have different beliefs from their own.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It was in that light that that it needed to be read and understood.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is about understanding yourself and knowing your emotional limits.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Need some help understanding the language of recruitment technology?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They know and understand the hand signals.
The Sun (2013)
Listening to this you can understand what he meant.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But such reforms will not be nearly enough unless the party also becomes far smarter at understanding how voters think.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This transition between brain systems can be most easily understood by thinking about what happens when you learn to drive.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Something to think about or understand.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That is, there is scoring of whether the student seemed to understand what was read.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
I do not think he understands it today.
The Sun (2012)
I think my brother understood me.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Quotations
In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater security than another submarineJ. William Fulbrightspeaking of the Fulbright scholarship programme
In other languages
understand
British English: understand /ˌʌndəˈstænd/ VERB
If you understand someone, or if you understand what they are saying, you know what they mean.
I don't understand what you are talking about.
American English: understand
Arabic: يَفْهَمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: entender
Chinese: 理解
Croatian: razumijeti
Czech: rozumět
Danish: forstå
Dutch: begrijpen
European Spanish: comprender
Finnish: ymmärtää
French: comprendre
German: verstehen
Greek: καταλαβαίνω
Italian: comprendere
Japanese: 理解する
Korean: 이해하다
Norwegian: forstå
Polish: zrozumieć
European Portuguese: entender
Romanian: a înțelege
Russian: понимать
Latin American Spanish: comprender
Swedish: förstå
Thai: เข้าใจ
Turkish: anlamak
Ukrainian: розуміти
Vietnamese: hiểu
All related terms of 'understand'
understand an issue
An issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing .
understand the reason
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
understand the meaning
The meaning of what someone says or of something such as a book or film is the thoughts or ideas that are intended to be expressed by it.
understand the reality
The reality of a situation is the truth about it, especially when it is unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
understand the situation
You use situation to refer generally to what is happening in a particular place at a particular time, or to refer to what is happening to you.
give someone to understand
If someone is given to understand that something is the case, it is communicated to them that it is the case, usually without them being told directly .
understand the importance of
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation.
do you understand/is that understood
You can use understand in expressions like do you understand? or is that understood? after you have told someone what you want , to make sure that they have understood you and will obey you.
give to understand (or believe, etc.)
to cause to understand (or believe , etc.)
I fail to see/I fail to understand
You can use I fail to see or I fail to understand in order to introduce a statement which indicates that you do not agree with what someone has said or done.
Chinese translation of 'understand'
understand
(ʌndəˈstænd)
Word forms:ptppunderstood
vt
[speaker, sb's words, meaning]明白 (míngbai)
[foreign language]懂 (dǒng)
[book, subject, behaviour]理解 (lǐjiě)
⇒ They are too young to understand what is going on.他们太年轻，无法理解所发生的一切。 (Tāmen tài niánqīng, wúfǎ lǐjiě suǒ fāshēng de yīqiè.)
⇒ His wife doesn't understand him.他的妻子不理解他。 (Tā de qīzi bù lǐjiě tā.)
to understand that ... (= believe) 获(獲)悉 ... (huòxī ... )
he is understood to be in Italy人们(們)认(認)为(為)他在意大利 (rénmen rènwéi tā zài Yìdàlì)
to make o.s. understood将(將)自己的意思表达(達)清楚 (jiāng zìjǐ de yìsi biǎodá qīngchu)
很难(難)理解现(現)在发(發)生了什么(麼)事情 hěn nán lǐjiě xiànzài fāshēng le shénme shìqing
it is impossible to understand what's going on
不可能了解事情的进(進)展情况(況) bù kěnéng liǎojiě shìqing de jìnzhǎn qíngkuàng
it's amazing how he always seems to understand
他总(總)是如此善解人意真是太了不起了 tā zǒngshì rúcǐ shànjiěrényì zhēnshì tài liǎobuqǐ le
it is important for them to understand that ...
他们(們)一定要懂得 ... tāmen yídìng yào dǒngde ...
1 (verb)
Definition
to know what is happening or why it is happening
I think you understand my meaning.
Synonyms
comprehend
I just cannot comprehend your attitude.
get
You don't seem to get the point.
take in
perceive
He was beginning to perceive the true nature of their relationship.
grasp
The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis.
know
Hire someone with experience, someone who knows about real estate.
see
Oh, I see what you're saying.
follow
Can you follow the plot so far?
realize
As soon as we realized what was going on, we moved the children away.
recognize
I recognize my own shortcomings.
appreciate
be aware of
penetrate
long answers that were often difficult to penetrate
make out
discern
Under the bridge we could just discern a shadowy figure.
twig (British, informal)
By the time she'd twigged what it was all about, it was too late.
fathom
I couldn't fathom what he was talking about.
savvy (slang)
apprehend
Only now can I begin to apprehend the power of these forces.
conceive of
suss (British, informal)
get to the bottom of
get the hang of (informal)
tumble to (informal)
catch on to (informal)
cotton on to (informal)
make head or tail of (informal)
get your head round
2 (verb)
Definition
to be sympathetic to or compatible with
Trish had not exactly understood his feelings.
Synonyms
sympathize with
I must tell you how much I sympathize with you for your loss.
appreciate
She never really appreciated the depth of the conflict.
be aware of
be able to see
take on board (informal)
empathize with
commiserate with
show compassion for
3 (verb)
Definition
to assume, infer, or believe
I understand you've heard about David.
Synonyms
believe
I believe you have something of mine.
hear
He had heard that the trophy had been sold.
learn
They learned of his military service from archive records.
gather
I gather his report is highly critical of the project.
think
I think he'll do a great job for us.
see
suppose
The problem was more complex than he supposed.
notice
assume
It is a mistake to assume that the two are similar.
take it
I take it you're a friend of theirs.
conclude
We concluded that he was telling the truth.
fancy
She fancied he was trying to hide a smile.
presume
I presume you're here on business.
be informed
infer
I inferred from what she said that you have not been well.
surmise
She surmised that they had discovered one of the illegal streets.
hear tell
draw the inference
see the light
Quotation
In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater security than another submarine [J. William Fulbright – speaking of the Fulbright scholarship programme]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appreciate
Definition
to be aware of and understand
She never really appreciated the depth of the conflict.
Synonyms
be aware of,
know,
understand,
estimate,
realize,
acknowledge,
recognize,
perceive,
comprehend,
take account of,
be sensitive to,
be conscious of,
sympathize with,
be alive to,
be cognizant of
in the sense of apprehend
Definition
to grasp (something) mentally
Only now can I begin to apprehend the power of these forces.
Synonyms
understand,
know,
think,
believe,
imagine,
realize,
recognize,
appreciate,
perceive,
grasp,
conceive,
comprehend,
get the message,
get the picture
in the sense of assume
Definition
to take to be true without proof
It is a mistake to assume that the two are similar.
Synonyms
presume,
think,
believe,
expect,
accept,
suppose,
imagine,
suspect,
guess (informal),
take it,
fancy,
take for granted,
infer,
conjecture,
postulate (formal),
surmise,
presuppose
Synonyms of 'understand'
understand
Explore 'understand' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conclude
Definition
to decide by reasoning
We concluded that he was telling the truth.
Synonyms
decide,
judge,
establish,
suppose,
determine,
assume,
gather,
reckon (informal),
work out,
infer,
deduce,
surmise
in the sense of discern
Definition
to see or be aware of (something) clearly
Under the bridge we could just discern a shadowy figure.
Synonyms
see,
perceive,
make out,
notice,
observe,
recognize,
behold (archaic, literary),
catch sight of,
suss (out) (slang),
espy,
descry
in the sense of fancy
Definition
to think or suppose
She fancied he was trying to hide a smile.
Synonyms
suppose,
think,
believe,
imagine,
guess (informal),
reckon,
conceive,
infer,
conjecture,
surmise,
think likely,
be inclined to think
in the sense of fathom
Definition
to understand by thinking carefully about
I couldn't fathom what he was talking about.
Synonyms
understand,
grasp,
comprehend,
interpret,
get to the bottom of
in the sense of follow
Definition
to understand (an explanation)
Can you follow the plot so far?
Synonyms
understand,
get,
see,
catch,
realize,
appreciate,
take in,
grasp,
catch on (informal),
keep up with,
comprehend,
fathom,
get the hang of (informal),
get the picture
in the sense of gather
Definition
to learn from information given
I gather his report is highly critical of the project.
Synonyms
understand,
believe,
hear,
learn,
assume,
take it,
conclude,
presume,
be informed,
infer,
deduce,
surmise,
be led to believe
in the sense of get
Definition
to hear or understand
You don't seem to get the point.
Synonyms
understand,
follow,
catch,
see,
notice,
realize,
appreciate,
be aware of,
take in,
perceive,
grasp,
comprehend,
fathom,
apprehend,
suss (out) (slang),
get the hang of (informal),
get your head round
in the sense of grasp
Definition
to understand
The Government has not yet grasped the seriousness of the crisis.
Synonyms
understand,
realize,
take in,
get,
see,
follow,
catch on (informal),
comprehend,
get the message about,
get the picture about,
catch or get the drift of
in the sense of hear
Definition
to be informed (of something)
He had heard that the trophy had been sold.
Synonyms
learn,
discover,
find out,
understand,
pick up,
gather,
be informed,
ascertain,
be told of,
get wind of (informal),
hear tell (dialect)
in the sense of infer
Definition
to conclude by reasoning from evidence
I inferred from what she said that you have not been well.
Synonyms
deduce,
understand,
gather,
conclude,
derive,
presume,
conjecture,
surmise,
read between the lines,
put two and two together
Additional synonyms
in the sense of know
Definition
to experience
Hire someone with experience, someone who knows about real estate.
Synonyms
be familiar with,
experience,
understand,
ken (Scottish),
comprehend,
fathom,
apprehend,
have knowledge of,
be acquainted with,
feel certain of,
have dealings in,
be versed in
in the sense of learn
Definition
to become informed
They learned of his military service from archive records.
Synonyms
discover,
hear,
understand,
gain knowledge,
find out about,
become aware,
discern,
ascertain,
come to know,
suss (out) (slang)
in the sense of penetrate
Definition
to grasp the meaning of (a principle, etc.)
long answers that were often difficult to penetrate
Synonyms
grasp,
understand,
work out,
figure out (informal),
unravel,
discern,
comprehend,
fathom,
decipher,
suss (out) (slang),
get to the bottom of
in the sense of perceive
Definition
to understand or grasp
He was beginning to perceive the true nature of their relationship.
Synonyms
understand,
sense,
gather,
get (informal),
know,
see,
feel,
learn,
realize,
conclude,
appreciate,
grasp,
comprehend,
get the message about,
deduce,
apprehend,
suss (out) (slang),
get the picture about
in the sense of presume
Definition
to take (something) for granted
I presume you're here on business.
Synonyms
believe,
think,
suppose,
assume,
guess (informal),
take it,
take for granted,
infer,
conjecture,
postulate (formal),
surmise,
posit,
presuppose
in the sense of realize
Definition
to be aware of or grasp the significance of
As soon as we realized what was going on, we moved the children away.
Synonyms
become aware of,
understand,
recognize,
appreciate,
take in,
grasp,
conceive,
catch on (informal),
comprehend,
twig (British, informal),
get the message,
apprehend,
become conscious of,
be cognizant of
in the sense of recognize
Definition
to accept or be aware of (a fact or problem)
I recognize my own shortcomings.
Synonyms
acknowledge,
see,
allow,
understand,
accept,
admit,
grant,
realize,
concede,
perceive,
confess,
be aware of,
take on board,
avow
in the sense of savvy
Definition
to understand
Synonyms
understand,
take in,
perceive,
grasp,
catch on (informal),
comprehend,
apprehend,
get the gist,
catch the drift
in the sense of see
Definition
to understand
Oh, I see what you're saying.
Synonyms
understand,
get,
follow,
realize,
know,
appreciate,
take in,
grasp,
make out,
catch on (informal),
comprehend,
fathom,
get the hang of (informal),
get the drift of
in the sense of suppose
Definition
to presume (something) to be true without certain knowledge
The problem was more complex than he supposed.
Synonyms
think,
imagine,
expect,
judge,
assume,
guess (informal),
calculate (US, dialect),
presume,
take for granted,
infer,
conjecture,
surmise,
dare say,
opine (formal),
presuppose,
take as read
Additional synonyms
in the sense of surmise
Definition
to guess (something) from incomplete or uncertain evidence
She surmised that they had discovered one of the illegal streets.
Synonyms
guess,
suppose,
imagine,
presume,
consider,
suspect,
conclude,
fancy,
speculate,
infer,
deduce,
come to the conclusion,
conjecture,
opine (formal),
hazard a guess
in the sense of take it
Definition
to assume or believe
I take it you're a friend of theirs.
Synonyms
assume,
suppose,
presume,
expect,
imagine,
guess (informal)
in the sense of think
Definition
to consider, judge, or believe
I think he'll do a great job for us.
Synonyms
anticipate,
expect,
figure (US, informal),
suppose,
imagine,
guess (informal),
reckon (informal),
presume,
envisage,
foresee,
surmise
in the sense of twig
Definition
to realize or understand
By the time she'd twigged what it was all about, it was too late.