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.
Something that really struck me while watching your documentary a few years ago was, it can be hard now to comprehend what fame was like in the ’80s and the ’90s.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Thank whatever god responsible that never happened, because the devastation of dropping just one nuke would be so horrendous that we can barely comprehend it.
From Salon • May 8, 2026
"I always believe in forgiveness, but I cannot comprehend how such a selfish act should be forgiven," said his daughter Kate, adding her father's death "was completely avoidable."
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
The point Currie was making was that markets seem not to comprehend the logistical difficulties involved in moving different types of oil around, and the disruption it causes.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
She did not seem to understand that he could not comprehend a war at all, brief or not.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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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