understand
verb
un·der·stand ˌən-dər-ˈstand 
understood ˌən-dər-ˈstu̇d ; understanding
; understanding transitive verb
1
a
: 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
understandability
ˌən-dər-ˌstan-də-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun understandable
ˌən-dər-ˈstan-də-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
- conclude
- decide
- deduce
- derive
- extrapolate
- gather
- infer
- judge
- make out
- reason
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 How FanDuel’s No Sweat First Bet works Before signing up with FanDuel, new users should understand the intricacies of the No Sweat First Bet promotion. —
Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023 Willis’ family aims to shed light on the need for further research and awareness into this type of dementia, so family members can understand that behavioral changes are typical in these cases. —Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 17 Feb. 2023 A lot of people now understand that patriotism has to do with honoring the Constitution, protecting our institutional democracy. —Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2023 The other women understand, and even Kat gives her a comforting hug. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2023 The most important aspect of shopping for the right heirloom seeds is to understand all of the vital specs of your garden. —Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Feb. 2023 Time Maximization Peak-performing leaders understand that poor communication steals their time. —Abiola Salami, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Students understand the Holocaust, along with antisemitism in the 20th and 21st centuries. —Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2023 Rosanna Smart is an economist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and co-leader of its Gun Policy in America initiative to understand the effects of gun policies. —Andrew R. Morral, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 See More
Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023 Willis’ family aims to shed light on the need for further research and awareness into this type of dementia, so family members can understand that behavioral changes are typical in these cases. —Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 17 Feb. 2023 A lot of people now understand that patriotism has to do with honoring the Constitution, protecting our institutional democracy. —Benjamin Wallace-wells, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2023 The other women understand, and even Kat gives her a comforting hug. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2023 The most important aspect of shopping for the right heirloom seeds is to understand all of the vital specs of your garden. —Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Feb. 2023 Time Maximization Peak-performing leaders understand that poor communication steals their time. —Abiola Salami, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Students understand the Holocaust, along with antisemitism in the 20th and 21st centuries. —Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2023 Rosanna Smart is an economist at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation and co-leader of its Gun Policy in America initiative to understand the effects of gun policies. —Andrew R. Morral, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing understand
Kids Definition
understand
verb un·der·stand ˌən-dər-ˈstand
understood -ˈstu̇d ; understanding
; understanding 1
a
: to get the meaning of : comprehend
b
: to have thorough acquaintance with
understand the arts
2
: to have reason to believe : gather, infer
I understand that they will arrive today
3
: to take as meaning something not openly made known : interpret, explain
understand the letter to be a refusal
4
: to have a sympathetic attitude
my cousin doesn't understand about these things
5
: to supply in thought as if expressed
"to be married" is commonly understood after the word "engaged"
understandable
-ˈstan-də-bəl
adjective understandably adverb
-blē
understand
verb
1
as in to derive
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information as I understand it, this is the best plan that we have Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- derive
- decide
- think
- reason
- infer
- conclude
- guess
- deduce
- extrapolate
- assume
- judge
- speculate
- ascertain
- suppose
- read
- interpret
- make out
- surmise
- gather
- draw a conclusion
- construe
- contemplate
- rationalize
- conjecture
- philosophize
- find out
- dope (out)
2
as in to know
to have a practical understanding of I think I understand how an engine works now Synonyms & Similar Words
- know
- comprehend
- grasp
- appreciate
- fathom
- perceive
- apprehend
- possess
- savvy
- cognize
- follow
- have
- ken
- catch on (to)
- pick up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misunderstand
- misinterpret
- misapprehend
- misconceive
- misperceive
- misknow
3
as in to comprehend
to have a clear idea of after a few weeks in Russia I began to understand the language a little bit Synonyms & Similar Words
- know
- comprehend
- recognize
- decipher
- see
- grasp
- appreciate
- realize
- discern
- perceive
- sense
- get
- conceive
- apprehend
- intuit
- assimilate
- make
- grok
- decode
- dig
- savvy
- register
- seize
- fathom
- make out
- behold
- catch
- cognize
- twig
- pick up on
- compass
- absorb
- digest
- tumble (to)
- catch on (to)
- cotton (to or on to)
- penetrate
- take in
- pierce
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misunderstand
- miss
- misinterpret
- misread
- misconstrue
- mistake
- misapprehend
- misconceive
- misperceive
Synonym Chooser
The words appreciate and comprehend are common synonyms of understand. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable, with understand sometimes stressing the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.
orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed
The synonyms appreciate and understand are sometimes interchangeable, but appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.
failed to appreciate the risks involved
Although the words comprehend and understand have much in common, comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.
I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this