understanding

[ uhn-der-stan-ding ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈstæn dɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR understanding ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

mental process of a person who comprehends; comprehension; personal interpretation: My understanding of the word does not agree with yours.

intellectual faculties; intelligence; mind: a quick understanding.

superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence: With her keen understanding she should have become a leader.

knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing; skill in dealing with or handling something: an understanding of accounting practice.

a state of cooperative or mutually tolerant relations between people: To him, understanding and goodwill were the supreme virtues.

a mutual agreement, especially of a private, unannounced, or tacit kind: They had an understanding about who would do the dishes.

an agreement regulating joint activity or settling differences, often informal or preliminary in character: After hours of negotiation, no understanding on a new contract was reached.

Philosophy.

the power of abstract thought; logical power.
Kantianism. the mental faculty resolving the sensory manifold into the transcendental unity of apperception.

adjective

characterized by understanding; prompted by, based on, or demonstrating comprehension, intelligence, discernment, empathy, or the like: an understanding attitude.

Origin of understanding

before 1050; Middle English understandynge, late Old English understandincge (noun). See understand, -ing¹, -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM understanding

un·der·stand·ing·ly, adverb non·un·der·stand·ing, adjective, noun non·un·der·stand·ing·ly, adverb self-un·der·stand·ing, noun

Words nearby understanding

underspend, underspin, understaffed, understand, understandable, understanding, understate, understated, understatement, understeer, understock

Definition for understanding (2 of 2)

understand

[ uhn-der-stand ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈstænd /

verb (used with object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.

to perceive the meaning of; grasp the idea of; comprehend: to understand Spanish; I didn't understand your question.

to be thoroughly familiar with; apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of: to understand a trade.

to assign a meaning to; interpret: He understood her suggestion as a complaint.

to grasp the significance, implications, or importance of: He does not understand responsibility.

to regard as firmly communicated; take as agreed or settled: I understand that you will repay this loan in 30 days.

to learn or hear: I understand that you are going out of town.

to accept as true; believe: I understand that you are trying to be truthful, but you are wrong.

to construe in a particular way: You are to understand the phrase literally.

to supply mentally (something that is not expressed).

verb (used without object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.

to perceive what is meant; grasp the information conveyed: She told them about it in simple words, hoping they would understand.

to accept tolerantly or sympathetically: If you can't do it, I'll understand.

to have knowledge or background, as on a particular subject: He understands about boats.

to have a systematic interpretation or rationale, as in a field or area of knowledge: He can repeat every rule in the book, but he just doesn't understand.

Origin of understand

before 900; Middle English understanden, understonden, Old English understondan; cognate with Dutch onderstaan. See under-, stand

SYNONYMS FOR understand

1 See know¹.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR understand ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM understand

pre·un·der·stand, verb, pre·un·der·stood, pre·un·der·stand·ing.

Example sentences from the Web for understanding

Nothing made Groucho funnier than having this Margaret Dumont around not understanding the jokes.

Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire |William O’Connor |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Understanding my own dreams had a lot to do with getting me off the juice.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
As she discussed her understanding of the voting rights campaign and how she planned to recreate it, I grew more relieved.

Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’ |Gary May |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Now half-awake, we need all the help we can get in understanding our situation.

American Democracy Under Threat for 250 Years |Jedediah Purdy |December 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

I ask you now for your understanding and compassion: My father needs me at this most difficult time.

An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike |IranWire |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Not to trust to his own understanding, lest God blind his understanding.

A Vindication of the Presbyteriall-Government and Ministry |Ministers and Elders of the London Provinciall Assembly
A genuine liking for Prometheus Unbound may be reckoned the touch-stone of a mans capacity for understanding lyric poetry.

Shelley |John Addington Symonds
A mule can beat you at that: 'Be ye not as the mule, which have no understanding.'

Expositions of Holy Scripture |Alexander Maclaren
Upon these points there is said to be little doubt that the two nations will come to an understanding.

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 8, January, 1851 |Various
To neither of these was an understanding of Puritanism at all possible.

The World's Greatest Books, Vol IX. |Edited by Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton

British Dictionary definitions for understanding (1 of 2)

understanding

/ (ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ) /

noun

the ability to learn, judge, make decisions, etc; intelligence or sense

personal opinion or interpretation of a subject my understanding of your predicament

a mutual agreement or compact, esp an informal or private one

mainly British an unofficial engagement to be married

philosophy archaic the mind, esp the faculty of reason

on the understanding that with the condition that; providing

adjective

sympathetic, tolerant, or wise towards people

possessing judgment and intelligence

Derived forms of understanding

understandingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for understanding (2 of 2)

understand

/ (ˌʌndəˈstænd) /

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

(may take a clause as object) to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of I understand you; I understand what you mean

(may take a clause as object) to realize or grasp (something) he understands your position

(tr; may take a clause as object) to assume, infer, or believe I understand you are thinking of marrying

(tr) to know how to translate or read can you understand Spanish?

(tr; may take a clause as object; often passive) to accept as a condition or proviso it is understood that children must be kept quiet

(tr) to be sympathetic to or compatible with we understand each other

Derived forms of understand

understandable, adjective understandably, adverb

Word Origin for understand

Old English understandan; related to Old Frisian understonda, Middle High German understān step under; see under, stand

Idioms and Phrases with understanding

understand

see give to understand.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

understanding

noun

adjective

Origin of understanding

OTHER WORDS FROM understanding

Words nearby understanding

Definition for understanding (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.

verb (used without object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.

Origin of understand

SYNONYMS FOR understand

OTHER WORDS FROM understand

Example sentences from the Web for understanding

British Dictionary definitions for understanding (1 of 2)

noun

adjective

Derived forms of understanding

British Dictionary definitions for understanding (2 of 2)

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

Derived forms of understand

Word Origin for understand

Idioms and Phrases with understanding

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

understanding

noun

adjective

Origin of understanding

OTHER WORDS FROM understanding

Words nearby understanding

Definition for understanding (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.

verb (used without object), un·der·stood, un·der·stand·ing.

Origin of understand

SYNONYMS FOR understand

OTHER WORDS FROM understand

Words related to understanding

Example sentences from the Web for understanding

British Dictionary definitions for understanding (1 of 2)

noun

adjective

Derived forms of understanding

British Dictionary definitions for understanding (2 of 2)

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

Derived forms of understand

Word Origin for understand

Idioms and Phrases with understanding