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understand

v. · interj.
US //ˌəndɝˈstænd// UK //ˌʌndəstˈænd// un·der·stand
Irregular verb past understood past participle understood
  1. 1 to comprehend meaning (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to know the meaning of what someone is saying or writing.

    to grasp the intended meaning of a communication or the significance of a concept.

    Example

    I didn't understand the instructions, so I asked the teacher for help.

    Example

    Even after reading the technical manual twice, the engineers struggled to understand the logic behind the new software architecture.

    Usage

    Usually used in simple tenses rather than continuous forms.
    Pitfall
    I am understanding the lesson now.
    I understand the lesson now.

    Understand is a stative verb; it is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form to describe a state of knowledge.

  2. 2 to know a person's motives (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to know why someone behaves the way they do or how they feel.

    to perceive the nature, character, or motives of a person or the underlying causes of an event.

    Example

    She is a very private person, so it takes time to really understand her.

    Example

    The biographer spent years researching the subject's early life to understand the trauma that shaped his later political decisions.
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  1. 3 to believe or infer (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to believe something is true because of information you have received.

    to infer or assume a fact based on information received, often used to introduce a request for confirmation.

    Example

    I understand that you are looking for a new job.

    Example

    We understand that the shipment has been delayed due to weather conditions, but we require a firm delivery date.

    Usage

    Often followed by a 'that' clause.
  2. 4 implied in grammar (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    to treat a word as if it is there, even if it is not written or spoken.

    to supply a word or phrase mentally in a construction where it is omitted by ellipsis.

    Example

    In the sentence 'Go home', the subject 'you' is understood.

    Example

    In many imperative constructions, the second-person pronoun is understood rather than explicitly stated, yet it governs the reflexive pronoun choice.

    Usage

    Usually used in the passive voice in linguistic contexts.
  3. 5 acknowledging a point (interj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Dialect

    a way to say you have heard and accepted what someone said.

    a discourse marker used to acknowledge receipt of information or to signal agreement.

    Example

    The meeting is at five? Understand.

    Example

    The client wants the revisions by tomorrow morning? Understand, I will tell the team immediately.

    Teacher's tip

    This specific usage as a standalone interjection is particularly common in Singaporean and Malaysian English (Manglish/Singlish).
Origin

From Middle English understanden, from Old English understandan (“to understand”), from Proto-West Germanic understandan (“to stand between, understand”), from Proto-Germanic understandaną (“to stand between, understand”), equivalent to Old English under- (“between, inter-”) + standan (“to stand”) (Modern English under- + stand). Cognate with Old Frisian understonda (“to understand, experience, learn”), Old High German understantan (“to understand”), Middle Danish understande (“to understand”). Compare also Saterland Frisian understunda, unnerstounde (“to dare, survey, measure”), Dutch onderstaan (“to undertake, presume”), German unterstehen (“to be subordinate”).

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