- 1
To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.intransitivetransitiveusually
- Can you repeat what you just said? I didn't understand.
- 2
To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.; To know the meaning of.intransitivetransitiveusually
- ‘[…] 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,
- 3
To be thoroughly familiar with; to be able to undertake properly.transitiveusually
- The students understood the assignment.
- 4
To comprehend a fact or principle; to regard or come to regard a belief as such.transitiveusually
- 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
- 5
To know the intent, motives or character of; (of events) to know the causes of or reasons for.transitive
- One day you say you love me, the next you ignore me—I don't understand you!
- 6
To believe or infer, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.transitive
- I've been given to understand that you have a package for me?
- At least four people are understood to have been injured.
- 7
To regard as present when not.transitive
- In the imperative mood, the word “you” is usually understood.
- 8
To stand underneath, to support.humorousrare
- 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.
syn. apprehend · comprehend · grasp · know · perceive · pick up what someone is putting down · realise · get · compass · conceive · discern · grok
ant. misunderstand