Definition of understand verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

understand

verb

OPAL S

/ˌʌndəˈstænd/

/ˌʌndərˈstænd/

not usually used in the progressive tenses

Word Family

understand verb (≠ misunderstand)
understandable adjective
understanding noun (≠ misunderstanding)
understanding adjective
misunderstood adjective

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they understand	/ˌʌndəˈstænd/ /ˌʌndərˈstænd/
he / she / it understands	/ˌʌndəˈstændz/ /ˌʌndərˈstændz/
past simple understood	/ˌʌndəˈstʊd/ /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/
past participle understood	/ˌʌndəˈstʊd/ /ˌʌndərˈstʊd/
he / she / it understanding	/ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ/ /ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/

Idioms

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meaning

[transitive, intransitive] to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what somebody says, etc.

understand (something) Can you understand French?
Do you understand the instructions?
She didn't understand the form she was signing.
His accent made him difficult to understand.
I'm not sure that I understand. Go over it again.
I don't want you doing that again. Do you understand?
understand what… I don't understand what he's saying.

Express Yourself Asking for clarificationAsking for clarificationWhen you are given some information or asked to do something, you may need to check that you have understood correctly. Here are some ways of asking people to clarify what they said:

- I’m sorry, I didn’t quite understand.
- Would you mind explaining that again? I’m not sure that I’ve understood correctly.
- Sorry, I don't quite follow (you).
- Can I just check that I’ve got this right?
- I’m not quite clear about what I’m supposed to do.
- I’m not really sure what you mean.
- Sorry, could you repeat that? I didn’t hear what you said.
- Sorry, would you mind repeating what you just said?
- If I understand you correctly, you want me to phone the customer and apologize?
- Do you mean (to say) that the deal's off?
- What exactly are you saying?
- So you're saying that the meeting's cancelled?
- Sorry, did you mean that I should wait here or come back later?
- Can you just confirm your date of birth for me, please?

Grammar Point want / like / love / hate / thinkwant / like / love / hate / think

These verbs belong to a group known as stative verbs because they describe a state rather than an action (although think can describe either an action or a state). Stative verbs are not usually used in the progressive tenses. However, it is becoming more common for some stative verbs to be used with progressive tenses. Stative verbs such as want, like, love, hate and think are sometimes used in informal language to describe a state at a particular moment, or a state that continues for a period of time:
- Why are you wanting a new phone when your current one works perfectly well?
- What shall we do tonight? I’m thinking bowling.
- I’m loving the weather today!
Other stative verbs that can be used this way include prefer, remember, taste and understand

Extra Examples

I could barely understand a word of his story.
If I've understood you correctly…
The girl understands immediately and promises to be more careful.
I finally understood what she meant.
What is generally understood by ‘democracy’?

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

clearly
well
completely
…

verb + understand

be able to
can
be unable to
…

preposition

about
as

phrases

be commonly understood
be generally understood
be popularly understood
…

See full entry

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how something works/happens

[transitive] to know or realize how or why something happens, how it works or why it is important

understand something Doctors still don't understand much about the disease.
No one is answering the phone—I can't understand it.
I fully understand the reason for your decision.
She understands the importance of good design.
understand why, what, etc… I could never understand why she was fired.
It is easy to understand how he made this mistake.
They’re too young to understand what is happening.
understand somebody/something doing something I just can't understand him taking the money.
(formal) I just can't understand his taking the money.
understand that… He was the first to understand that we live in a knowledge economy.
be understood as something The national housing market is better understood as a collection of small, local housing markets.

Synonyms understandunderstandsee ▪ get ▪ follow ▪ grasp ▪ comprehendThese words all mean to know or realize something, for example why something happens, how something works or what something means.understand to know or realize the meaning of words, a language, what somebody says, etc.; to know or realize how or why something 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 somebody is saying, how something works or how important something is:

‘It opens like this.’ ‘Oh, I see.’
Oh yes, I see what you mean.

get (informal) to understand a joke, what somebody 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 something:

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 something:

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 something 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.

Patterns

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 something)
to be easy/difficult/hard to understand/see/follow/grasp/comprehend
to fully understand/see/grasp/comprehend something

Extra Examples

Her behaviour wounded him in a way he did not really understand.
They won't necessarily understand the pros and cons of the matter.
The effects of these chemicals on the body are still poorly understood.
These beliefs are best understood as a form of escapism.
a woman struggling to understand an incomprehensible situation
I can't understand what all the fuss is about.
We came to understand why certain things happened in certain ways.
She understood that this was her last chance.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

clearly
well
completely
…

verb + understand

be able to
can
be unable to
…

preposition

about
as

phrases

be commonly understood
be generally understood
be popularly understood
…

See full entry

know somebody

[transitive, intransitive] to know somebody’s character, how they feel and why they behave in the way they do

understand somebody Nobody understands me.
He doesn't understand women at all.
We understand each other, even if we don’t always agree.
understand what, how, etc… They understand what I have been through.
I understand how hard things have been for you.
understand (that…) I quite understand that you need some time alone.
If you want to leave early, I'm sure he'll understand.
understand somebody doing something I quite understand you needing some time alone.
(formal) I quite understand your needing some time alone.

Extra Examples

These categories help us to better understand our readers.
She realized that she had never properly understood him.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

clearly
well
completely
…

verb + understand

be able to
can
be unable to
…

preposition

about
as

phrases

be commonly understood
be generally understood
be popularly understood
…

See full entry

think/believe

[transitive] (formal) to think or believe that something is true because you have been told that it is

understand (that)… I understand (that) you wish to see the manager.
Am I to understand that you refuse?
understand somebody/something to be/have something 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.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb