understanding (ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
)
Definitions
noun
- the ability to learn, judge, make decisions, etc; intelligence or sense
- personal opinion or interpretation of a subject ⇒
my understanding of your predicament
- a mutual agreement or compact, esp an informal or private one
- mainly British an unofficial engagement to be married
- philosophy archaic the mind, esp the faculty of reason
- See on the understanding that
adjective
- sympathetic, tolerant, or wise towards people
- possessing judgment and intelligence
Alternative Forms
ˌunderˈstandingly adverbSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
perception,
knowledge,
grasp,
sense,
know-how,
intelligence,
judgment,
awareness,
appreciation,
insight,
skill,
penetration,
mastery,
comprehension,
familiarity with
discernment,
proficiency,
=
sympathy,
consideration,
sensitivity,
love,
concern,
humanity,
affection,
warmth,
tolerance,
goodwill,
compassion,
kindness,
empathy,
tenderness,
neighbourliness,
humanitarianism,
fellow feeling,
considerateness,
kind feeling
kind-heartedness,
=
agreement,
deal,
promise,
arrangement,
accord,
contract,
bond,
pledge,
bargain,
pact,
compact,
concord,
gentlemen's agreement,
=
belief,
view,
opinion,
impression,
interpretation,
feeling,
idea,
conclusion,
notion,
conviction,
judgment,
assumption,
point of view,
perception,
suspicion,
viewpoint,
hunch,
way of thinking
estimation,
supposition,
sneaking suspicion funny feeling
understand (ˌʌndəˈstænd)
Definitions
verb
- (may take a clause as object) to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of ⇒
I understand you
I understand what you mean
- (may take a clause as object) to realize or grasp (something) ⇒
he understands your position
- (tr; may take a clause as object) to assume, infer, or believe ⇒
I understand you are thinking of marrying
- (tr) to know how to translate or read ⇒
can you understand Spanish?
- (tr; may take a clause as object; often passive) to accept as a condition or proviso ⇒
it is understood that children must be kept quiet
- (tr) to be sympathetic to or compatible with ⇒
we understand each other
Alternative Forms
ˌunderˈstandable adjective ˌunderˈstandably adverbWord Origin
Old English understandan; related to Old Frisian understonda, Middle High German understān step under; see under, standSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
comprehend,
get,
take in,
perceive,
grasp,
know,
see,
follow,
realize,
recognize,
appreciate,
be aware of
penetrate,
make out,
discern,
twig,
fathom,
savvy,
apprehend,
conceive of,
suss,
get to the bottom of,
get the hang of,
tumble to,
catch on to cotton on to
make head or tail of,
get your head round
= sympathize with
appreciate,
be aware of be able to see
take on board,
empathize with commiserate with show compassion for
Quotations
"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will"
"The ill and unfit choice of words wonderfully obstructs the understanding"
"I shall light a candle of understanding in thine heart, which shall not be put out"
Bible: II Esdras
"In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater security than another submarine"
Translations
- British English:
understanding
If you are understanding towards someone, you are kind and forgiving.Her boss, who was very understanding, gave her time off.ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ ADJECTIVE Her boss, who was very understanding, gave her time off.
- Spanish:
comprensivo
adj comprensiva
- French:
compréhensif
adj
- German:
verständnisvoll
adj
- Chinese: 善解人意的 adj
- Arabic: مُتَفَهِّم adj
- Portuguese: compreensivo adj compreensiva
- Russian: понимающий adj понимающая
- Croatian: uviđavan adj uviđavna
- Czech: chápavý adj
- Danish: forstående adj
- Dutch: begripvol adj
- Finnish: ymmärtäväinen adj
- Greek: που δείχνει κατανόηση adj
- Italian: comprensivo adj comprensiva
- Japanese: 話がわかる no_posp
- Korean: 이해심 있는 adj
- Norwegian: forståelsesfull adj forståelsesfullt
- Polish: wyrozumiały adj wyrozumiała
- Brazilian Portuguese: compreensivo adj compreensiva
- European Spanish:
comprensivo
adj comprensiva
- Swedish: förstående adj
- Thai: ที่เข้าใจ อย่างเห็นอกเห็นใจ adj
- Turkish: anlayış adj
- Vietnamese: thông cảm adj
Usage examples
She was crying without knowing it, without understanding why.
, THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)The NFU believes the key to effective and lasting reduction in water pollution is a clear understanding of the causes and effects.
Country Life (2004)Now the next step is to find stronger links, in terms of understanding , like the (France) soccer team.
Irish Times (2002)I am afraid that his patriotism is as questionable as his understanding.
Glasgow Herald (2001)How they overcame this feeling of alienation is essential to the understanding of the Aborigine's unique relationship with his land.
, ABORIGINE DREAMING: Introduction to the Wisdom and Thought of the Aboriginal Traditions of Australia (2002)