Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
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.

"It's hard for me to understand why the human heart is so hard," is the priest's take on toughening attitudes in Europe to migration.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

I can understand that it helps a lot and I can note a marked difference in the amount of times I get recognized now that we are on social media.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

To understand a trillion, you don’t have to spend another second thinking about dollars, cents or Elon Musk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

"I can understand how they feel, because that is exactly how I feel with this situation," said Key.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

“When are you going to understand that you can’t make something out of nothing? You need to learn to stop watering dead things.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam




Vocabulary lists containing understand


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "understand" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com