Wiktionary

understand

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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). Cognate with Old Frisian understonda (“to understand, experience, learn”), Old High German understantan (“to understand”), Middle Danish understande (“to understand”). Compare also Saterland Frisian understunda, unnerstounde (“to dare, survey, measure”), Dutch onderstaan (“to undertake, presume”), German unterstehen (“to be subordinate”).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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understand (third-person singular simple present understands, present participle understanding, simple past and past participle understood)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) (of communication or means of communication: words, statements, signs, etc.) To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.
    Can you repeat what you just said? I didn't understand.
    • 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
      Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.
    • 1950, L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics‎[1], New Era Publications, published 1999, →ISBN, →OCLC, page ix:
      In reading this book, be very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand.
    • 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the Profound Meets the Profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:
      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.
    • 2024 February 5, Stephen Collinson, “Trump’s legal battles are at a critical moment with major implications for the 2024 election”, in CNN‎[2]:
      With his legal maneuverings, Trump is showing that he also understands the implications of this election — one that could give him substantial powers as president to defray or dismiss many of the legal threats that he’s facing and to behave in office without future accountability.
    1. (transitive) (generally) To know the meaning of.
      • 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 14:
        ‘[…] I came back here, had a wank and finished that book.’
        ‘The Naked Lunch?’
        ‘Yeah.’
        ‘What did you reckon?’
        ‘Crap.’
        ‘You’re just saying that because you didn’t understand it,’ said Adrian.
        ‘I’m just saying that because I did understand it,’ said Tom. ‘Any road up, we’d better start making some toast. […]’
  2. (transitive) (of a skill, task, profession, etc.) To be thoroughly familiar with; to be able to undertake properly.
    The students understood the assignment.
  3. (transitive, usually with clause as object) 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?
    There's been no formal declaration, but it's understood that a state of war exists between the two countries
    • 2024 November 14, Lauren del Valle, “After suicide of nonbinary teen, DOE finds multiple Title IX violations at Oklahoma school district”, in CNN‎[3]:
      “While we continue to believe the original complaint made to OCR was based on inaccurate information, OPS understands the importance for the district to remain in compliance with Title IX regulations in regard to policies, procedures, training, and documentation,” Coates’ statement said.
  4. (transitive) (of people) 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!
  5. (transitive) To believe or infer, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.
    I understand that you have a package for me?
    At least four people are understood to have been injured in the accident.
  6. (transitive, grammar) To regard as present when not.
    In the imperative mood, the word “you” is usually understood.
  7. (humorous, rare, obsolete outside circus, acrobatics) To stand underneath, to support.

Usage notes

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  • In its sense of "imputing meaning", use is usually limited to the past participle understood.
  • The obsolete perfect form understanded is occasionally found, e.g. in the Book of Common Prayer and the 39 Articles of the Anglican Church.

Conjugation

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Conjugation of understand
infinitive (to) understand
present tense past tense
1st-person singular understand understood
2nd-person singular understand, understandest† understood, understoodest†
3rd-person singular understands, understandeth† understood
plural understand
subjunctive understand understood
imperative understand —
participles understanding understood, understanded†

† Archaic or obsolete.

Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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