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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.

See Examples For:

Thomas suggests focusing on your budget first to understand what you can comfortably spend, and then build your activities around that, to help remove any "stress or guilt" during the holidays.

From BBC Jul. 24, 2026

I’d appreciate an explanation that a beginner like me can understand.

From MarketWatch Jul. 24, 2026

Yet more data is needed to understand the importance of family in detail and to correct misinterpretations that appear to be supported by the absence of such data.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 24, 2026

“What needs to happen now is more education so that the businesses actually understand the scope,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 24, 2026

To be honest, at the time I didn’t understand much of what they were talking about—only enough to know that I was on Mutti’s side.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

The BBC understands the boy may have been on a sandbank when he was cut off from the shore, sparking the rescue efforts.

From BBC Jul. 24, 2026

BBC Sport understands there have to be "exceptional circumstances" to justify the effort and that, in these cases, time might have been of the essence with a need for prompt testing.

From BBC Jul. 22, 2026

According to veteran observers of Israeli politics, Mr. Netanyahu understands that these policies are unpopular.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 21, 2026

He presents himself not as a political press secretary but as the experienced operator who understands what federal agents need and how immigration enforcement must work.

From Salon Jul. 21, 2026

She becomes a small shadow of her mother, yet it's hard to know whether she really understands the situation.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

But Lord Justice Dingemans, sitting with Mr Justice Murray and Judge Andrew Lees, said on Friday the previous judge "was entitled to set out the evidence as he understood it".

From BBC Jul. 24, 2026

But when I understood the connection last year, I tried to get in touch with Professor Strachan to thank her, only to find out that, in 2022, she died after a long battle with cancer.

From Salon Jul. 24, 2026

Hilda Solis, in a statement, said she understood the frustration and concerns of residents, including those calling for a mandatory evacuation.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 23, 2026

Bridgestock and colleagues instead looked at acid mine drainage, a common side effect of mining that, despite being well understood, had never been formally quantified before this study.

From Barron's Jul. 22, 2026

I lived for these moments, this tight connection with someone, the growing sense of understanding another person—and being understood.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Wang called for an early resumption of negotiations and the implementation of a memorandum of understanding aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Xinhua reported.

From Barron's Jul. 24, 2026

But that, she says, comes from a lack of understanding over what can be an "internal and invisible" struggle.

From BBC Jul. 24, 2026

Thousands of other users posted their thoughts online about this poll question, with some lamenting the respondents’ lack of understanding of probability.

From MarketWatch Jul. 24, 2026

Legal codes, he suggests, exist to regulate behavior that evolution shaped, and so should, in his view, rest on an understanding of where that behavior comes from.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 24, 2026

You step into her line of sight, give her an understanding smile.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith




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