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
To fully comprehend the Jacob Misiorowski Experience, just take a look at one of his outings from last week.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
“You cannot lose focus for a second of any of that. I don’t think anybody can comprehend that.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
"Absolutely cannot comprehend this news," former teammate Denny Hamlin wrote on social media.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
It was the first time I had been in a school where I could not comprehend anything at all.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
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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