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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:

The Journal’s Hannah Miao visited the place they call “Dalifornia” to try to understand the disillusionment among young people in the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

“Left unchecked, it could outrun our ability to understand and control these systems, and so must be pursued very carefully,” Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has written, “if at all.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

But last month, Santos de Torres, a new voter, struggled to help Nemorio, an American-born citizen, understand and cast his mail ballot for the November election.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

“The audience wants to know the work behind the calls and they really want to understand it,” said Rebecca Blumenstein, president-editorial for NBC News.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

I could not understand how Mutti could be like this.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Blumenfield also understands the objection but points out that the ballot already is overwhelming, and that everything in Measure LA addresses a change in governance and efficiency.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

BBC Sport understands this includes the possibility that broadcasters could bid to show all matches live - including those shown on a Saturday afternoon.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

The couple understands the trade-off — is it better to have cash in the bank or in home equity?

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

But what I really love about “The Age of Adaline” is that it understands the heart.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026

I’m just grateful that Gabi understands without me having to say anything.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

“They understood that my help was not free money,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026

It is understood that figure started at £6m but has already reduced by half.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

The work also provides insight into how the overall structure of a network can be understood through carefully selected local connections.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

The Framers understood that, even for the most virtuous, receipt of favors creates a predisposition to do favors in return.

From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2026

I do not think I understood just how serious the argument had really been, till the next morning.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

By revealing how vitamin A signaling and thyroid hormones help shape the retina, scientists have taken another step toward understanding vision at its earliest stages and potentially finding ways to restore it when disease strikes.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Supporters say people overseeing Van Nuys and LAX should have a firsthand understanding of living near the airports.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

"Being thoughtful and understanding can make a real difference to whether someone feels left out or included in these occasions."

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

As research continues, this location may become key to understanding how societies in the Maghreb evolved from early farming communities to the medieval rural world.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Perhaps the greatest paradox about understanding “the woods” is that so many who enjoy it, or seem to enjoy it, spend most of their time trying to kill parts of it.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen


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