understand

Forms

present (v1): understand
past (v2): understood
past participle (v3): understood
present participle: understanding
3rd person singular: understands

Definitions

Verb
A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

1.To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.
- Can you repeat what you just said? I didn't understand.
- In reading this book, be very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand.
- Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.
2.To be thoroughly familiar with; to be able to undertake properly.
- The students understood the assignment.
3.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?
4.To know the intent, motives or character of; (of events) 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!

Interjection
A word or short phrase used to express a sudden emotion or reaction.

1.Uh-huh, I see; a way to acknowledge something said by the other speaker.

Frequency

Overall

Very common· #277

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Common
General reading & writing: Very common
Academic: Uncommon
Literature: Uncommon

Related words

Synonyms

Word family

Etymology

From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand”), from Proto-West Germanic *understandan (“to stand between, understand”), from Proto-Germanic *understandaną (“to stand between, understand”), equivalent to Old English under- (“between, inter-”) + standan (“to stand”) (Modern English under- + stand).

VerbVerb×A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

IntjInterjection×A word or short phrase used to express a sudden emotion or reaction.