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understand
[ uhn-der-stand ]
verb (used with object)
- to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend:
to understand Spanish; I didn't understand your question.
- to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of:
to understand a trade.
- to assign a meaning to; interpret:
He understood her suggestion as a complaint.
- to grasp the significance, implications, or importance of:
He does not understand responsibility.
- to regard as firmly communicated; take as agreed or settled:
I understand that you will repay this loan in 30 days.
- to learn or hear:
I understand that you are going out of town.
- to accept as true; believe:
I understand that you are trying to be truthful, but you are wrong.
- to construe in a particular way:
You are to understand the phrase literally.
- to supply mentally (something that is not expressed).
verb (used without object)
- to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed:
She told them about it in simple words, hoping they would understand.
- to accept tolerantly or sympathetically:
If you can't do it, I'll understand.
- to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject:
He understands about boats.
- to have a systematic interpretation or rationale, as in a field or area of knowledge:
He can repeat every rule in the book, but he just doesn't understand.
understand
/ ˌʌndəˈstænd /
verb
- may take a clause as object to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
I understand you
I understand what you mean
- may take a clause as object to realize or grasp (something)
he understands your position
- tr; may take a clause as object to assume, infer, or believe
I understand you are thinking of marrying
- tr to know how to translate or read
can you understand Spanish?
- 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
- tr to be sympathetic to or compatible with
we understand each other
Derived Forms
- ˌunderˈstandable, adjective
- ˌunderˈstandably, adverb
Other Words From
- preun·der·stand verb preunderstood preunderstanding
Word History and Origins
Origin of understand1
Word History and Origins
Origin of understand1
Idioms and Phrases
see give to understand .Example Sentences
He appeared to understand however belatedly that he was in the presence of another kind of greatness.
Carla points out how meaningful it can be to have people in your life who simply understand what you're going through.
I understand that this is human trafficking, but I know that my people have no other option.
Is that a utilitarian approach—that you need to understand how institutions have changed to understand the way they are?
If you look at the history, you can really understand why the parties are so divided and why the public is so split.
Now first we shall want our pupil to understand, speak, read and write the mother tongue well.
He spoke clearly and slowly, well knowing that some among the natives would understand him.
Why he did that, instead of walking around on the shore, Jimmy Rabbit couldn't understand.
"Now I have a larger place for you," the boy said, speaking just as though Squinty could understand him.
She knew that she alone of all human beings was gifted with the power to understand and fully sympathize with him.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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