understand

un‧der‧stand S1 W1 /ˌʌndəˈstænd $ -ər-/ verb (past tense and past participle understood /-ˈstʊd/) [not in progressive]
[Word Family: adjective: understandable, understanding, misunderstood; verb: understand ≠ misunderstand; noun: understanding ≠ misunderstanding; adverb: understandably]
[Language: Old English; Origin: understandan, from under + standan 'to stand']
1. MEANING [intransitive and transitive] to know the meaning of what someone is telling you, or the language that they speak ⇒ misunderstood:
She doesn’t understand English.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Can you explain that again?
The woman had a strong accent, and I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
make yourself understood (=make what you say clear to other people, especially when speaking a foreign language)
I’m not very good at German, but I can make myself understood. ⇒ see Thesaurus box on P. 1916
2. FACT/IDEA [intransitive and transitive] to know or realize how a fact, process, situation etc works, especially through learning or experience:
I don’t really understand the political situation in Northern Ireland.
understand how/why/where etc
You don’t need to understand how computers work to be able to use them.
How the drug works isn’t fully understood.
understand (that)
I understand that this treatment may not work.
3. PERSON/FEELINGS [intransitive and transitive] to realize how someone feels and why they behave the way they do, and to be sympathetic:
My parents just don’t understand me.
Just tell him how you feel – I’m sure he’ll understand.
understand how/what etc
I understand how you feel, but I think you’re overreacting.
(can) understand somebody doing something
I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.
4. BELIEVE/THINK [transitive] to believe or think that something is true because you have heard it or read it
understand (that)
‘I understand that he was 62 when he died,’ McLeish said.
it is understood (that)
It is understood that the Queen approves of her nephew’s romance.
be understood to be (doing) something
Dillons is understood to be reorganising the company’s management structure.
5. give somebody to understand (that) formal to make someone believe that something is true, going to happen etc, without telling them this directly:
I was given to understand that the property was in good condition.
6. be understood (that) formal if something is understood, everyone knows it, or has agreed to it, and there is no need to discuss it:
From childhood it was understood that your parents would choose your husband.
7. understand something to be/mean something to accept something as having a particular meaning:
In this document, ‘children’ is understood to mean people under 14.
8. do you understand? spoken used when you are telling someone what they should or should not do, especially when you are angry with them:
Never speak to me like that again! Do you understand?
• • •

THESAURUS

▪ understand to know the meaning of something, or the reasons for something: I understand what you’re saying. | Doctors are beginning to understand what causes the disease.
▪ see especially spoken to understand something, especially the truth about a situation or the reasons for something: I can see why you don’t like him. | Do you see what I mean? | Oh, I see!
▪ get informal to understand a joke, what someone says, the reasons why something is true etc: She didn’t seem to get the joke. | Do you get me? | He explained the math homework twice, but I still don’t get it. | I still don’t get why she left.
▪ comprehend formal to understand something, or understand why something is important: The dream was easy to describe, but difficult to comprehend. | They had failed to comprehend the significance of the problem.
▪ know what somebody means spoken to understand what someone is telling you, or what a situation is like, especially because you have some experience or knowledge about this: ‘It can be really hard to give up smoking.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean.’ | We now know what the scientists meant when they warned about global warming.
▪ follow to understand something such as an explanation or story as you hear it, read it etc: The plot is hard to follow. | His instructions were easy to follow.

to understand something difficult

▪ grasp to completely understand an idea or a fact, especially a complicated one: Some of his theories can be rather difficult for the ordinary reader to grasp. | I don’t think Stuart really grasped the point I was making.
▪ fathom /ˈfæðəm/ formal to understand what something means or the reasons for something, after thinking carefully about it: She looked at him, puzzled, trying to fathom the reasons for his actions.
▪ make sense of something to understand something that is not easy to understand, especially by thinking about it: People are still trying to make sense of the news.
▪ can’t make head nor tail of something spoken used when something seems impossible to understand: I can’t make head nor tail of his plays, and I’m not sure that anyone else can either.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

understand

under·stand [understand understands understood understanding] [ˌʌndəˈstænd] [ˌʌndərˈstænd] verb (under·stood, under·stood [ˌʌndəˈstʊd] ; [ˌʌndərˈstʊd] )(not used in the progressive tenses)

MEANING
1. transitive, intransitive to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc
• ~ (sth) Can you understand French?
• Do you understand the instructions?
• She didn't understand the form she was signing.
• I'm not sure that I understand. Go over it again.
• I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?

• ~ what… I don't understand what he's saying.

HOW STH WORKS/HAPPENS
2. transitive, intransitive to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important
• ~ (sth) Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
• No one is answering the phone— I can't understand it.
• ~ why, what, etc… I could never understand why she was fired.
• They're too young to understand what is happening.
• ~ sb/sth doing sth I just can't understand him taking the money.
• (formal) I just can't understand his taking the money.

• ~ that… He was the first to understand that we live in a knowledge economy.

KNOW SB
3. transitive, intransitive to know sb's character, how they feel and why they behave in the way they do
• ~ sb Nobody understands me.
• He doesn't understand women at all.
• We understand each other, even if we don't always agree.
• ~ what, how, etc… They understand what I have been through.
• I understand how hard things have been for you.
• ~ (that…) I quite understand that you need some time alone.
• If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.

• ~ sb doing sth I quite understand you needing some time alone.

THINK/BELIEVE
4. transitive (formal) to think or believe that sth is true because you have been told that it is
• ~ (that)… I understand (that) you wish to see the manager.
• Am I to understand that you refuse?
• ~ sb/sth to be/have sth The Prime Minister is understood to have been extremely angry about the report.

• it is understood that… It is understood that the band are working on their next album.

BE AGREED
5. transitive it is understood that… to agree sth with sb without it needing to be said

• I thought it was understood that my expenses would be paid.

MISSING WORD
6. transitive, usually passive ~ sth to realize that a word in a phrase or sentence is not expressed and to supply it in your mind
• In the sentence ‘I can't drive’, the object ‘a car’ is understood.
more at give sb to believe/understand at give _v.
Idiom: make yourself understood
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English understandan (see under-, stand).
Word Family:
understand verb (≠ misunderstand)
understandable adjective
misunderstood adjective
understanding adjective noun (≠ misunderstanding)
Synonyms:
understand
see • get • follow • grasp • comprehend
These words all mean to know or realize sth, for example why sth happens, how sth works or what sth means.
understand • to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what sb says, etc; to know or realize how or why sth happens, how it works or why it is important: ▪ I don't understand the instructions. ◊ ▪ Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
see • to understand what is happening, what sb is saying, how sth works or how important sth is: ▪ ‘It opens like this.’ ‘Oh, ▪ I see ▪.’ ◊ ▪ Oh yes, ▪ I see what you mean ▪.
get • (informal) to understand a joke, what sb is trying to tell you, or a situation that they are trying to describe: ▪ She didn't get the joke. ◊ ▪ I don't get you.
follow • to understand an explanation, a story or the meaning of sth: ▪ Sorry— I don't quite follow. ◊ ▪ The plot is almost impossible to follow.
grasp • to come to understand a fact, an idea or how to do sth: ▪ They failed to grasp the importance of his words.
understand or grasp?
You can use understand or grasp for the action of realizing the meaning or importance of sth for the first time: ▪ It's a difficult concept for children to understand/grasp. Only understand can be used to talk about languages, words or writing: I don't grasp French/the instructions.
comprehend • (often used in negative statements) (formal) to understand a fact, idea or reason: ▪ The concept of infinity is almost impossible for the human mind to comprehend.
to understand/see/get/follow/grasp/comprehend what/why/how…
to understand/see/grasp/comprehend that…
to understand/see/get/grasp the point/idea (of sth)
to be easy/difficult/hard to understand/see/follow/grasp/comprehend
to fully understand/see/grasp/comprehend sth
Example Bank:
• Her behaviour wounded him in a way he did not really understand.
• I can't understand what all the fuss is about.
• I could barely understand a word of his story.
• I don't claim to understand it.
• I finally understood what she meant.
• I fully understand the reason for your decision.
• If I've understood you correctly…
• It is difficult to understand why he reacted in that way.
• Only specialists can hope to understand them.
• She intuitively understood his need to be alone.
• She realized that she had never properly understood him.
• She soon learnt to understand English.
• The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.
• The girl understands immediately and promises to be more careful.
• The reasons for this decision are not easily understood.
• These beliefs are best understood as a form of escapism.
• These categories help us to better understand our readers.
• They won't necessarily understand the pros and cons of the matter.
• We came to understand why certain things happened in certain ways.
• We understand little about this disease.
• What is generally understood by ‘democracy’?
• a complex topic which I only partially understand
• a woman struggling to understand an incomprehensible situation
• Do you understand French?
• Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
• He couldn't understand what she was saying.
• He doesn't understand women at all.
• I don't understand the instructions.
• I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?
• I just can't understand him taking the money.
• If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.
• It's understood that the band are already working on their next album.
• She said she didn't understand the form she was signing.
• She understood that this was her last chance.
• The disease is still not fully understood.
• The prime minister is understood to have been extremely angry about the report.

• We understand each other, even if we don't always agree.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

understand

[ʌ̱ndə(r)stæ̱nd]

understands, understanding, understood
1) VERB: no cont If you understand someone or understand what they are saying, you know what they mean.
  [V n] I think you heard and also understand me...
  [V n] Rusty nodded as though she understood the old woman...
  [V wh] I don't understand what you are talking about...
  [make pron-refl V-ed] He was speaking poor English, trying to make himself understood.
2) VERB: no cont If you understand a language, you know what someone is saying when they are speaking that language.
  [V n] I couldn't read or understand a word of Yiddish, so I asked him to translate.
3) VERB: no cont To understand someone means to know how they feel and why they behave in the way that they do.
  [V n] It would be nice to have someone who really understood me, a friend...
  [V n] Trish had not exactly understood his feelings...
  [V wh] She understands why I get tired and grumpy.
4) VERB: no cont You say that you understand something when you know why or how it happens.
  [V wh] They are too young to understand what is going on...
  [V wh] She didn't understand why the TV was kept out of reach of the patients...
  [V n] In the effort to understand AIDS, attention is moving from the virus to the immune system.
5) VERB: no cont If you understand that something is the case, you think it is true because you have heard or read that it is. You can say that something is understood to be the case to mean that people generally think it is true.
  [V that] We understand that she's in the studio recording her second album...
  [V that] I understand you've heard about David...
  [V it] As I understand it, you came round the corner by the cricket field and there was the man in the road...
  [be V-ed to-inf] The management is understood to be very unwilling to agree to this request...
  [it be V-ed that/to-inf] It is understood that the veteran reporter had a heart attack.
6) PHRASE: give inflects, usu PHR that If someone is given to understand that something is the case, it is communicated to them that it is the case, usually without them being told directly.
  I am given to understand that he was swearing throughout the game at our fans.
7) CONVENTION You can use understand in expressions like do you understand? or is that understood? after you have told someone what you want, to make sure that they have understood you and will obey you.
  You do not hit my grandchildren, do you understand?...
  I don't need it, understand?...
  I don't want to hear another word about it. Is that understood, Emma?

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

understand

un·der·stand /ˌʌndɚˈstænd/ verb -stands; -stood /-ˈstʊd/ ; -stand·ing
1 : to know the meaning of (something, such as the words that someone is saying or a language) : comprehend

[+ obj]
• Do you understand English?
• “Did you understand what he said?” “Not a word (of it).”
• I can't understand a word you're saying.
• I don't understand these directions.
• I didn't understand what you told me. = I didn't understand you.
• If I understand you correctly [=if I understand what you are saying correctly], this needs to be changed.

[no obj]
• I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand?
• The work has to be finished today. Understand? [=do you understand what I am telling you?]
2 [+ obj] : to know how (something) works or happens
• They understand local politics.
• I don't understand how this is supposed to work.
• He doesn't really understand the situation.
• You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject.
• I can't understand why she would do such a thing.
• She's beginning to understand what's going on.
• You have to understand that I had no other choice.
• We still don't fully understand the causes of the disease. = The causes of the disease are still not fully understood.
3 a [+ obj] : to know how (someone) thinks, feels, or behaves
• I understand [=know] him well enough to know that he won't want to go.
• She understands children.
• At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now.
b : to feel sympathy for someone's feelings or situation

[+ obj]
• She had a similar experience, so she understands what I'm going through.
• I can understand your/you feeling annoyed. [=I think you have good reason for feeling annoyed]

[no obj]
• They will understand if you need some time off.
• My cousin doesn't understand about these things.
4 [+ obj]
a : to think or believe (something)
• She was given to understand [=she was led to believe] that the job was hers.
- used to say what you believe to be true based on what you have heard, read, etc.
• I understand that they will arrive today.
• As I understand it, this has been a problem for several years.
• I understand that some doctors disagree.
• He understood that he would be paid for the work.
b
- used to say that something is agreed to or accepted and does not need to be discussed; usually used as (be) understood
• It's understood that more time will be needed. [=we all know/accept that more time will be needed]
• He believed it was understood [=believed that everyone had agreed] that he would be paid for the work.
5 [+ obj] : to think that (something) has a particular meaning : interpret
• I understood the letter to be a refusal.
6 [+ obj]
- used to say that a word or phrase is thought of as having been said even though it is not actually said; usually used as (be) understood
• When people say “they're engaged,” the phrase “to be married” is understood. [=“they're engaged” is understood to mean “they're engaged to be married”]
make yourself understood
- see ¹make