adj · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ʌndəˈstandɪŋ/
General-American:/ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ændɪŋ
CMU ARPABET:AH2 N D ER0 S T AE1 N D IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Showing compassion, tolerance, and forbearance; sympathetically aware.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Knowing; skilful.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act of one that understands or comprehends; the mental process of discernment of meaning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, with-of
Examples
There are certain things that defy human understanding.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: comprehension
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Reason or intelligence; ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge; ability to infer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, with-of
Examples
She has a solid understanding of particle physics.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: comprehension, grasp
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
Opinion, judgement, or outlook.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, with-of
Examples
According to my understanding, the situation is quite perilous. I wonder if you see it this way, too.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.
An informal contract; a mutual agreement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable, with-of
Examples
I thought we had an understanding - you do the dishes, and I throw the trash.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.
A reconciliation of differences.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable, with-of
Examples
The parties of the negotiation have managed to come to an understanding.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
Sympathy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, with-of
Examples
He showed much understanding for my problems when he heard about my past.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
present participle and gerund of understand
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
adjective satellite
Meaning 10
characterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an understanding friend
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: reason, intellect
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: faculty, mental faculty, module
12
noun
Meaning 12
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect
From Middle English understandyng, understondynge, understondinde, undirstondend, understandande, from Old English understandende, from Proto-West Germanic *undarstandandī, from Proto-Germanic *understandandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *understandaną (“to stand between, intercede, understand”), equivalent to understand + -ing (present participle ending).
From Middle English understandinge, understondinge, from Old English understanding (“intelligence, understanding”), from Proto-West Germanic *undarstandingu, from Proto-Germanic *understandingō, equivalent to understand + -ing (gerund ending). Cognate with Middle Dutch onderstaninge, Middle Low German understandinge, Middle High German understandunge.
Across languages
Translations
196 source translations are retained for this English entry.
