understand

verb

ˌən-dər-ˈstand How to pronounce understand (audio)
Definition of understandnext
1
as in to know
to have a practical understanding of I think I understand how an engine works now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to recognize
to have a clear idea of after a few weeks in Russia I began to understand the language a little bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to derive
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information as I understand it, this is the best plan that we have

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word understand distinct from other similar verbs?

The words appreciate and comprehend are common synonyms of understand. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable, with understand sometimes stressing the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.

orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed

When is it sensible to use appreciate instead of understand?

The synonyms appreciate and understand are sometimes interchangeable, but appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

failed to appreciate the risks involved

Where would comprehend be a reasonable alternative to understand?

Although the words comprehend and understand have much in common, comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of understand That the Netflix version of what can now be best understood as a reboot of a famous franchise feels less like social psychology and more like a high-concept season of Big Brother is no surprise. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Stopping an outbreak requires understanding why people aren’t vaccinated, what might change their minds, and what barriers are getting in the way. — Raj Panjabi, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026 Colorado has one of the nation's higher rates of multiple sclerosis, or MS, and specialists at the Rocky Mountain MS Center at the University of Colorado are working to better understand the disease and improve diagnostic accuracy. — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Markets could struggle to understand the need for a pause given September's hotter than expected inflation report . — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for understand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understand
  1. know
  2. recognize
  3. derive
  4. comprehend
  5. decipher
  6. decide
  7. appreciate
  8. think
Verb
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who has worked at a fast-growing company at the edge of technology knows that obligations, circumstances and products change daily.
    — Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • Only in this case, the vaccine’s mRNA teaches immune cells to recognize key features of an individual’s cancer rather than a virus.
    — Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Their point was to maintain an environment where work could be conducted safely without disruption while recognizing the rights of all individuals.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of recognize
Verb
  • The twist here is that the action is derived from two different points in history, switching back and forth between eras and ultimately melding the two.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The guarantee derived from a calculation by Hoover’s engineering deputy, Arthur Powell Davis, that so much water flowed down the river that there would always be enough to meet every state’s needs.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of derive
Verb
  • Infinite Jasons • MacNamara is so far from comprehending the box that his Jason looked utterly bored by his questions.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Squires recalled spending time talking with his neighbor and said the loss of the man and his wife was difficult to comprehend.
    — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of comprehend
Verb
  • Bahdanau was working with artificial neural networks, which had already shown promise in pattern-recognition tasks such as deciphering handwriting and identifying objects in photos.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to developing better medicines or perfumes, deciphering the mirror images of molecules can help scientists understand the chemical architecture of life, said chemist Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the journal Science.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decipher
Verb
  • Trials in four other cases in which Sorrells’ predecessor, Sharen Wilson, decided to seek the death penalty, have occurred during Sorrells term.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The next auto race will be decided by which country can excel at both.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of decide
Verb
  • Even someone actively avoiding the trend cycle can appreciate a new way to wear their sweater vest and white button-down shirt.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some participants appreciate the light-hearted and good-natured humor, expressing gratitude and finding it timely and amusing.
    — Edith Pritchett, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of appreciate
Verb
  • Most Americans don’t want more data centers and think AI is developing too fast.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Although the mattress developed some minor misshaping after a month of heavy use, Moon still thinks it’s packed with value.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of think

Browse Nearby Words

undersold
understand
understandability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Understand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understand. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All