Understand

/ˌʌndəˈstænd/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive, intransitive, of communication or means of communication: words, statements, signs, etc.) To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive, intransitive, of communication or means of communication: words, statements, signs, etc.) To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.
2. (transitive, of a skill, task, profession, etc.) To be thoroughly familiar with; to be able to undertake properly.
3. (transitive, usually with clause as object) To comprehend a fact or principle; to regard or come to regard a belief as such.
4. (transitive, of people) To know the intent, motives or character of; (of events) to know the causes of or reasons for.
5. (transitive) To believe or infer, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.
6. (transitive, grammar) To regard as present when not.
7. (humorous, rare, obsolete outside circus, acrobatics) To stand underneath, to support.
8. (Singapore, Malaysia, backchanneling) Uh-huh, I see; a way to acknowledge something said by the other speaker.

Example Sentences

Can you repeat what you just said? I didn't understand.

Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

In reading this book, be very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand.

Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.

With his legal maneuverings, Trump is showing that he also understands the implications of this election — one that could give him substantial powers as president to defray or dismiss many of the legal threats that he’s facing and to behave in office without future accountability.

The students understood the assignment.

I understand that company policy says I can't get a refund, but can you make an exception?

There's been no formal declaration, but it's understood that a state of war exists between the two countries

Synonyms for understand

Antonyms for understand

Related Words

Word Forms

• understands
• understanding
• understood
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• understand
• understandest
• understoodest
• understandeth
• -
• understanded
• understaund

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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