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Definitions

understand

[uhn-der-stand] / ˌʌn dərˈstænd /




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.

“I used to say, ‘I don’t understand why you’re such a cold fish,’ and George would say, ‘I may be a cold fish, but you’re full of beans’ — and that was our chemistry.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Carolyn Benson, from Desertmartin near Magherafelt, said her daughter Hannah's severe allergies have highlighted ongoing concerns about how well schools and catering staff understand allergy risks.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Increasingly Pacific nations understand that defense spending is more than a necessary bulwark of national security.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

But to truly understand the scale of this AI rally, look no further than South Korea.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

Clare sniffed around her, trying to understand why she refused to move.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman




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