understood

[ uhn-der-stoo d ]

/ ˌʌn dərˈstʊd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR understood ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

simple past tense and past participle of understand.

adjective

agreed upon; known in advance; assented to: It is the understood policy of this establishment to limit credit.

implied but not stated; left unexpressed: The understood meaning of a danger sign is “Do not approach.”

OTHER WORDS FROM understood

half-un·der·stood, adjective non·un·der·stood, adjective self-un·der·stood, adjective well-un·der·stood, adjective

Words nearby understood

understate, understated, understatement, understeer, understock, understood, understorey, understory, understrapper, understratum, understrength

Definition for understood (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 understood

What it endangers is a narrow conception of Russian power, understood through the eyes of its dictatorial leader.

Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup |James Kirchick |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Most people, however, understood the significance of the photo immediately-- especially those who share my skin.

What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face? |Goldie Taylor |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“He could build studios and he understood technology,” Jackson told The Daily Beast.

Alleged Cop Killer’s Blood-Soaked Screenplay |M.L. Nestel |December 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
One understood why Joan Fontaine stayed with him no matter what.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days |David Freeman |December 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Emily Kinney told me that Beth and Dawn understood and respected each other on a certain level.

‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Scott Gimple Teases ‘Darker, Weirder’ Times Ahead |Melissa Leon |December 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In an instant the whips ceased to fall and the man with the dead soul saw all the Earth before him—and understood.

The City and the World and Other Stories |Francis Clement Kelley
Celestine looked at the man behind his glasses, and understood the matter.

Bureaucracy |Honore de Balzac
"Never," replied our host in such a way that any but a fool must have understood that he desired nothing less than such a meeting.

Bardelys the Magnificent |Rafael Sabatini
"You must not fatigue him," he said to Julien, who understood that he was the nephew.

The Red and the Black |Stendhal
He urged me, as I understood it, to come downstairs and admire a man that was in the street.

An Irishman's Difficulties with the Dutch Language |N.A. Cuey-na-Gael

British Dictionary definitions for understood (1 of 2)

understood

/ (ˌʌndəˈstʊd) /

verb

the past tense and past participle of understand

adjective

implied or inferred

taken for granted; assumed

British Dictionary definitions for understood (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 understood

understand

see give to understand.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

understood

verb

adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM understood

Words nearby understood

Definition for understood (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 understood

British Dictionary definitions for understood (1 of 2)

verb

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for understood (2 of 2)

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

Derived forms of understand

Word Origin for understand

Idioms and Phrases with understood

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

understood

verb

adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM understood

Words nearby understood

Definition for understood (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 understood

Example sentences from the Web for understood

British Dictionary definitions for understood (1 of 2)

verb

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for understood (2 of 2)

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

Derived forms of understand

Word Origin for understand

Idioms and Phrases with understood