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Showing results for understand.
Definitions

understand

[uhn-der-stand] / ˌʌn dərˈstænd /
VERB
comprehend, grasp
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apprehend catch comprehend fathom figure out follow get grasp know perceive register savvy sense
STRONG
appreciate deduce discern infer interpret master note penetrate realize recognize see
WEAK
be aware be conscious of be with it catch on get the hang of get the idea get the picture get the point have knowledge of ken make out make sense of take in take meaning
Antonyms
STRONGEST
be ignorant lose misinterpret miss misunderstand not get overlook
WEAK
mistake
VERB
think, believe, assume
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assume believe gather hear infer suppose surmise think
STRONG
concede conclude conjecture consider deduce expect fancy guess imagine know learn presume reckon
WEAK
be informed count on suspect take for granted
Antonyms
STRONG
disregard doubt ignore mistake neglect
VERB
sympathetically accept
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accept appreciate empathize sympathize
STRONG
identify with sympathize with
WEAK
empathize with feel for

Usage

What are other ways to say understand? 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. 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 comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. 

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.

Europe looks better if one uses purchasing-power-parity figures to correct for differences in price levels to understand how much households can consume with a given income.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

"I understand it's difficult, but it's not possible to close your eyes on what's going on here in Ukraine," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Hollar said sell-side analysts were overwhelmingly positive on the stock heading into earnings, “and it’s never possible to understand what the buy side is thinking.”

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

If you’re a crafty person, which it sounds like you are, I can understand the temptation to update whatever you want with the intention of changing it back before moving out.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

“When are you going to understand that you can’t make something out of nothing? You need to learn to stop watering dead things.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Vocabulary lists containing understand

TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

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"Kids Like Me: Voices of the Immigrant Experience"

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Foundational Reading

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