understood

verb

Definition of understoodnext
past tense of understand
1
as in derived
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

Relevance
2
as in knew
to have a practical understanding of I think I understand how an engine works now

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in comprehended
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

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 understood Its scientists understood the future of digital photography, but the company could not bring the right product to market. — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 My abuser understood the power of words, and used them to dictate the terms of my obedience. — Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 Few artists have understood the power of a signature look quite like Dolly Parton. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 Reynolds understood how to sell the new pen, too, with advertisements promising an avant-garde writing utensil, capable of enduring long stretches of writing with no need to replenish the ink. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026 The images prompted comparisons with the Stanford experiment and Zimbardo became a prominent commentator on the Abu Ghraib scandal, arguing that the abuses could not be understood solely as the actions of a few individuals. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026 In the Muslim tradition, a judge is forbidden from making a ruling when angry because it is understood that justice cannot come from rage. — Casper Ter Kuile, Vox, 21 Oct. 2026 For reasons still not fully understood, the trade winds die and the warm pool of water in the western Pacific begins to flow back toward the coast of South America. — Gary Griggs, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026 No formal talks with the actors’ reps yet but both are understood to be supportive of the longer version of the project. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understood
  1. derived
  2. knew
  3. comprehended
  4. decided
  5. recognized
  6. concluded
  7. deciphered
  8. grasped
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 derived
Verb
  • The state’s rebuttal witness testified that Hinton was grieving and angry but knew his actions were wrong.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After all, very few people outside of the inner A24-Fielder-Oppenheim circle knew anything about it before its shock Telluride screening.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of knew
Verb
  • The polling points to the enduring legacy of 9/11, even as many Americans today are too young to have experienced or comprehended the event a quarter-century ago.
    — Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The frames keep changing regardless of how much the viewer has noticed or comprehended.
    — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of comprehended
Verb
  • Flying to San Diego With a packed helicopter and dwindling fuel, the crew decided to head to the Coast Guard station in San Diego where ambulances were waiting.
    — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Its creator, Ryan Murphy, decided to include an episode inspired by the famous 1969 Monegasque ball, only this time, the character played by Kardashian was the host.
    — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of decided
Verb
  • Tyler Shultz, a former Theranos research engineer who helped expose the company’s faulty blood-testing technology, barely recognized the woman on-screen.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The manager there recognized a Met Opera ticket in the print and ordered the $90 ties, which sold out in three days.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of recognized
Verb
  • Investigators concluded those underlying allegations were not substantiated.
    — Derek James, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The rap superstar followed up its release with her first headlining arena run, dubbed the Little Miss Drama Tour, which began in February and concluded in April last year.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of concluded
Verb
  • But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Re-creating the Herculaneum scrolls To date, one entire scroll and passages from others have been deciphered, largely thanks to the Vesuvius Challenge, a project launched in 2023 that encourages researchers to decode scrolls for cash prizes.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of deciphered
Verb
  • But both emanate from something his opponents have never quite grasped.
    — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
  • So all three of your adaptations have grasped quite the attention before even coming out.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of grasped

Browse Nearby Words

understating
understood
understudied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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