understanding

Fetched 2026-10-28 (live).

Synonyms: understandings, inunderstanding, understating, underhanding, understaffing, underspending

Antonyms: understandings, inunderstanding, understating, underhanding, understaffing, underspending

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. The act of one that understands or comprehends; the mental process of discernment of meaning.
   • There are certain things that defy human understanding.
2. Reason or intelligence; ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge; ability to infer.
   • She has a solid understanding of particle physics.
3. Opinion, judgement, or outlook.
   • According to my understanding, the situation is quite perilous. I wonder if you see it this way, too.
4. An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon. An informal contract; a mutual agreement.
   • I thought we had an understanding - you do the dishes, and I throw the trash.
   • The parties of the negotiation have managed to come to an understanding.
5. An informal contract; a mutual agreement.
   • I thought we had an understanding - you do the dishes, and I throw the trash.
6. A reconciliation of differences.
   • The parties of the negotiation have managed to come to an understanding.
7. Sympathy.
   • He showed much understanding for my problems when he heard about my past.
8. Legs or feet.

Adjective

1. Showing compassion, tolerance, and forbearance; sympathetically aware.
   • (Can we add an example for this sense?)
2. Knowing; skilful.

Verb

1. present participle and gerund of understand

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.