comprehend
Usage
What are other ways to say comprehend?
To comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. To know is to be aware of something as a fact or truth: He knows the basic facts of the subject. I know that he agrees with me. To understand is to be fully aware not only of the meaning of something but also of its implications: I could comprehend all he said, but did not understand that he was joking.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Children were dying, and as the father of two young girls, I couldn’t comprehend why he would turn away from science.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026
More beings will appear too and cinematographer Jeremy Cox’s deliberately low-fi look forces you to do triple and quadruple takes to comprehend what you’re even seeing.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
"Absolutely cannot comprehend this news," former teammate Denny Hamlin wrote on social media.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
They are concerned with justice, as far as they can comprehend its meaning from the stories George reads to them.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
It is impossible for contemporary Americans to fully comprehend what it meant to live under a system in which some individuals had absolute power over others.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Vocabulary lists containing comprehend
Vocabulary of the Common Core
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List 4
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
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