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. Gamal Helal:

   When we are interpreting, we take notes for ourselves - these are not verbatim notes, they are only a language we understand, so we can reconstruct the phrase or paragraph, sometimes you prepare the notes at the request of the president.

2. Jordan Patch:

   Whatever the underlying genetics are between the two of them is what produced this very unique mutation, now we're looking long term to understand and study what that gene is, are both parents recessive trait holders, is this just a fluke ?

3. Primo Levi:

   For me chemistry represented an indefinite cloud of future potentialities which enveloped my life to come in black volutes torn by fiery flashes, like those which had hidden Mount Sinai. Like Moses, from that cloud I expected my law, the principle of order in me, around me, and in the world. I would watch the buds swell in spring, the mica glint in the granite, my own hands, and I would say to myself: I will understand this, too, I will understand everything.

4. Jed Mercurio:

   The other thing is, unfortunately, the reality of our situation is that the principal terror threats in the UK do originate from Islamist sympathizers, i do understand that's different from the religion of Islam, but it's the reality of who the perpetrators are of the majority of the offenses. If the show were set in the recent British past, the attackers might be Irish republicans.

5. Judge Wood:

   I understand if he doesn't want his name out there, but that's not enough under the law.

Images & Illustrations of understand

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