Definitions for understand
ˌʌn dərˈstændun·der·stand

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. understand(verb)

   know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

   "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means"

2. understand, realize, realise, see(verb)

   perceive (an idea or situation) mentally

   "Now I see!"; "I just can't see your point"; "Does she realize how important this decision is?"; "I don't understand the idea"

3. understand, read, interpret, translate(verb)

   make sense of a language

   "She understands French"; "Can you read Greek?"

4. understand, infer(verb)

   believe to be the case

   "I understand you have no previous experience?"

5. sympathize, sympathise, empathize, empathise, understand(verb)

   be understanding of

   "You don't need to explain--I understand!"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. understand(Verb)

   To be aware of the meaning of.

   Etymology: From understanden, from understandan, from under + standanan, equivalent to under- + standan. Cognate with understunda, understantan, Middle understande. Compare also onderstaan, unterstehen. More at inter-, stand.

2. understand(Verb)

   To believe, based on information.

   I understand that you have information for me.

   Etymology: From understanden, from understandan, from under + standanan, equivalent to under- + standan. Cognate with understunda, understantan, Middle understande. Compare also onderstaan, unterstehen. More at inter-, stand.

3. understand(Verb)

   To impute meaning, character etc. that is not explicitly stated.

   Etymology: From understanden, from understandan, from under + standanan, equivalent to under- + standan. Cognate with understunda, understantan, Middle understande. Compare also onderstaan, unterstehen. More at inter-, stand.

4. understand(Verb)

   To apply values (axioms).

   Etymology: From understanden, from understandan, from under + standanan, equivalent to under- + standan. Cognate with understunda, understantan, Middle understande. Compare also onderstaan, unterstehen. More at inter-, stand.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Understand(verb)

   to have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the court understands the advocate or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a wink

2. Understand(verb)

   to be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill

3. Understand(verb)

   to recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain

4. Understand(verb)

   to mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume

5. Understand(verb)

   to stand under; to support

6. Understand(verb)

   to have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being

7. Understand(verb)

   to be informed; to have or receive knowledge

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Understand

   un-dėr-stand′, v.t. to comprehend: to have just ideas of: to know thoroughly: to be informed of: to learn: to suppose to mean: to mean without expressing: to imply.—v.i. to have the use of the intellectual faculties: to be informed: to learn.—adj. Understan′dable.—p.adj. Understan′ded (obs.), understood (with of).—n. Understan′ding, the act of comprehending: the faculty or the act of the mind by which it understands or thinks: the power to understand: knowledge: exact comprehension: agreement of minds: harmony.—adj. knowing, skilful.—adv. Understan′dingly.—Understands′, in Scotch Version of Psalms, used for Understandest. [A.S. understandan, to stand under or in the midst of a thing.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. understand

   To feel and know intuitively.

   They did understand the nature of their love, unity and engagement and knew their marriage was for life.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 15, 2020  

2. understand

   To perceive intuitively through the brain, conscience, consciousness, heart, mind, spirit, soul and subconscious.

   We do understand each other and trust the unity of our soul and love.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 15, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'understand' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #676

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'understand' in Written Corpus Frequency: #456

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'understand' in Verbs Frequency: #91

How to pronounce understand?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say understand in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of understand in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of understand in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of understand in a Sentence

1. April Coffey -LRB- center -RRB-:

   Malachi Coffey -LRB- right -RRB- keeps saying : ‘ I don’t understand why I ’m getting all of this attention. All I did was the right thing,' but I’ve told Malachi Coffey -LRB- right -RRB- that not everyone does the right thing, not everyone does something to save someone’s life.

2. Rex Buchanan:

   The research needs out here are great. We can't see what's going on down there, being able to understand this is a challenge.

3. David Balderrama:

   Many employers don’t seem to understand the veterans ’ skills and how those can translate for them. … If they would make that effort to see these men and women have what it takes to be great employees, they would understand the benefits they get in hiring a veteran.

4. Attorney General Lynch:

   No matter how I viewed it, I understand how other people view it.

5. H.W. Mann:

   Forgiveness does not mean we simply forget, or we are ok with what has happened. Forgiveness means we understand humans unconsciously do horrible things. Forgiveness is a choice not to be held in a pain prison of the past. Forgiveness is to choose presence. Forgiveness is to choose peace.

Images & Illustrations of understand

Popularity rank by frequency of use