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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | understandan, from under + standan 'to stand' |
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un‧der‧stand S1 W1
past tense and past participle understood [not in progressive]
past tense and past participle understood [not in progressive]1 to know the meaning of what someone is telling you, or the language that they speak [↪ misunderstood]: She doesn't understand English. I'm sorry, I don't understand. Can you explain that again? The woman had a strong accent, and I couldn't understand what she was saying.
meaning
[intransitive and transitive]She doesn't understand English.I'm sorry, I don't understand. Can you explain that again?The woman had a strong accent, and I couldn't understand what she was saying. make yourself understood (=make what you say clear to other people, especially when speaking a foreign language) I'm not very good at German, but I can make myself understood.
I'm not very good at German, but I can make myself understood.2 to know or realize how a fact, process, situation etc works, especially through learning or experience : I don't really understand the political situation in Northern Ireland.
fact/idea
[intransitive and transitive]I don't really understand the political situation in Northern Ireland. understand how/why/where etc You don't need to understand how computers work to be able to use them.
You don't need to understand how computers work to be able to use them.3 to realize how someone feels and why they behave the way they do, and to be sympathetic : My parents just don't understand me. Just tell him how you feel - I'm sure he'll understand.
person/feelings
[intransitive and transitive]My parents just don't understand me.Just tell him how you feel - I'm sure he'll understand. (can) understand somebody doing something I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.
I can understand her wanting to live alone and be independent.4 to believe or think that something is true because you have heard it or read it
believe/think
[transitive] understand (that) 'I understand that he was 62 when he died,' McLeish said.
'I understand that he was 62 when he died,' McLeish said. be understood to be (doing) something Dillons is understood to be reorganising the company's management structure.
Dillons is understood to be reorganising the company's management structure.5 to make someone believe that something is true, going to happen etc, without telling them this directly : I was given to understand that the property was in good condition.
give somebody to understand (that)
formalI was given to understand that the property was in good condition.6 if something is understood, everyone knows it, or has agreed to it, and there is no need to discuss it : From childhood it was understood that your parents would choose your husband.
be understood (that)
formalFrom childhood it was understood that your parents would choose your husband.7 to accept something as having a particular meaning : In this document, 'children' is understood to mean people under 14.
understand something to be/mean something
In this document, 'children' is understood to mean people under 14.8 used when you are telling someone what they should or should not do, especially when you are angry with them : Never speak to me like that again! Do you understand?
do you understand?
spokenNever speak to me like that again! Do you understand?