verb

understand

uhn-duh-STAND

verb

To grasp the meaning of something.

"Do you understand the instructions on the form?"

"I finally understood what she meant after she explained it twice."

To know someone's feelings, character, or reasons for acting a certain way.

"Good parents try to understand their children rather than just correct them."

To believe something to be true based on what you've heard, even without full proof.

"I understand the meeting has been moved to Friday."

interjection

Used to acknowledge that you've grasped what someone just said.

""Take the second left." "Understood.""

How to Use Understand

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo know what something means, why something happened, or how someone feels.

Memory tip

The past tense is irregular: understood, not "understanded."

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

understand a concept fully understand hard to understand

Word Forms

understood past tense, understanded past tense, understand plural, understood plural, understanded plural, understands singular, understand singular, understood singular, understanded singular, understandest singular, understoodest singular, understandeth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Do you _____ the instructions on the form?

Etymology

From Old English understandan, literally "to stand among/between," from under- ("among") plus standan ("to stand") — the sense shifted over time from being positioned close to something to grasping it mentally.

Synonyms

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apprehend comprehend know grasp perceive pick up what someone is putting down realise get compass conceive grok discern

Antonyms

misunderstand

Related Words

abdicate be take achieve know compass begin lose

Rhymes for understand

misunderstand

See all rhymes for understand →

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