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understand

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verb [never progressive] American English pronunciation: understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyunderstand
he/she/itunderstands
present participleunderstanding
past tenseunderstood
past participleunderstood
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to know what someone or something means

    If you don't understand, just put your hand up.

    The instructions were difficult to understand.

    I don't understand a word you're saying.

    understand what/where/whether etc.:

    I don't quite understand where you want me to put it.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of understand
    1. a.
      to know what something spoken or written in a particular language means

      I'm sorry, I don't understand French.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of understand
  2. 2
    [intransitive/transitive] to know how or why something happens, or what effect or influence something has

    Do they fully understand the implications of their decision?

    understand how/why/what etc.:

    We are only beginning to understand how the brain functions.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of understand
  3. 3
    [intransitive/transitive] to know how someone feels or why someone does something, as a result of experience or by imagining what it must be like to be them

    He says his wife doesn't understand him.

    I understand your concern, but the operation is completely safe.

    understand how/why/what:

    Does she understand why he doesn't want to see her?

    understand someone/someone's doing something:

    I can understand his not inviting Joan (=understand why he does not invite her).

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of understand
  4. 4
    [transitive] formal to believe that something is true because you have heard or read it somewhere
    understand (that):

    We understand that a major announcement is to be made tomorrow.

    be understood to do something:

    Mr. Lang is understood to favor more traditional teaching methods.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of understand
  5. 5
    [transitive] [usually passive] to recognize that a word or phrase is missing in a sentence and that you have to imagine that it is there

    The object of the verb is understood with words such as "to smoke" and "to read."

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of understand

phrases

This is the American English definition of understand. View British English definition of understand.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

 

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