understand definition

English

Alternative forms

• understaund (obsolete)

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). 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

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ŭn(′)dər-stănd', IPA^(key): /(ˌ)ʌndəˈstænd/,
• (General American) enPR: ŭn′dər-stănd', IPA^(key): /ˌʌndɚˈstænd/, [ˌʌɾ̃ɚˈstæ̃nd], [ˌʌɾ̃ɚˈsteə̯nd]
• (Ireland) IPA^(key): /ˌɞndəɹˈstand/

• Audio (UK)

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• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ænd
• Hyphenation: un‧der‧stand

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To grasp a concept fully and thoroughly, especially (of words, statements, art, etc.) to be aware of the meaning of and (of people) to be aware of the intent of.
   • 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], OCLC 16832619:

     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, Hubbard, L. Ron, Dianetics‎^[1], New Era Publications, published 1999, →ISBN, OCLC 59128428, page ix:

     In reading this book, be very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand.

   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, page 20:

     ‘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.’

   I'm sorry. I don't understand.

   Please try to understand. It's not you, it's me.

2. To believe, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess‎^[2]:

     ‘I understand that the district was considered a sort of sanctuary,’ the Chief was saying.

   • 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.

   I understand that you have a package for me?

   In the imperative mood, the word “you” is usually understood.

3. (humorous, rare, obsolete outside circus, acrobatics) To stand underneath, to support.
   • c. 1590–1591, William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene v]:

     LAUNE: Ay, and what I do too: look thee, I'll but lean, and my staff understands me.
     SPEED: It stands under thee, indeed.
     LAUNCE:Why, stand-under and under-stand is all one.

Usage notes

• 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.

Synonyms

• (to fully grasp a concept): apprehend, comprehend, grasp, know, perceive, pick up what someone is putting down, realise, grok
• (to believe one grasps a concept): believe

Antonyms

• misunderstand

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• explain
• why

Further reading

• understand in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• understand in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911

Anagrams

• unstranded