understanding

noun

(uncountable) The act of one that understands or comprehends; the mental process of discernment of meaning.

(countable) Reason or intelligence; ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge; ability to infer.

(countable) An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.

An informal contract; a mutual agreement.

(countable) Opinion, judgement, or outlook.

A reconciliation of differences.

(uncountable) Sympathy.

adjective

Showing compassion, tolerance, and forbearance; sympathetically aware.

(dated) Knowing; skilful.

Roots

underunder- · Old English · beneath, below standan-stand · Old English · stand

Synonyms for understanding

comprehensionn discernmentn sympathyn comprehendingv intellectn insightn knowledgen knowingn agreementn apprehensionn awarenessn intellectionn empathyn savvyn perceptionn graspv

Synonyms & related words for understanding

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of understanding — including comprehension, discernment, sympathy, comprehending, intellect, insight. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to understanding

Explore words related to understanding — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include noncomprehension, understands, perceptiveness, realizing, comprehends, pansophy, understood, incomprehension. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for understanding

Common synonyms for understanding include comprehension, discernment, sympathy, comprehending, intellect, insight, knowledge, knowing — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does understanding come from?

The word understanding breaks down into 2 roots of Old English origin: under-, from Old English under (“beneath, below”); and -stand, from Old English standan (“stand”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.