understand

About 102.83 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.

   Can you repeat what you just said? I didn't understand.

2. verb To know the meaning of.
3. verb To be thoroughly familiar with; to be able to undertake properly.

   The students understood the assignment.

4. verb To comprehend a fact or principle; to regard or come to regard a belief as such.

   I understand that company policy says I can't get a refund, but can you make an exception?

5. verb To know the intent, motives or character of; to know the causes of or reasons for.

   One day you say you love me, the next you ignore me—I don't understand you!

6. verb To believe or infer, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.

   I've been given to understand that you have a package for me?

7. verb To regard as present when not.

   In the imperative mood, the word “you” is usually understood.

8. verb To stand underneath, to support.

Similar words

realize infer see interpret read empathize sympathize translate gather knowing

Often followed by

the that what how why it and this their

Word family

understandabilities understandability understandable understanding understands understood