How do you use the word "understand" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "understand" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "understand": There are many words that I don't understand. I'm so dumb... I'm trying to explain things to you that I don't understand myself.

Understand Meaning

/ˌʌndəˈstænd/

Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend.

verbTo know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend., To know the meaning of.

Sentence Examples

There are many words that I don't understand.

I'm so dumb... I'm trying to explain things to you that I don't understand myself.

I understand how upset you must be feeling.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

see read translate

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

After reading the instructions twice, I finally ____ the complicated math problem.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

I'm not sure if I fully ____ the instructions, so could you please explain them to me one more time today?

Word Origin & History

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”).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well." — 1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:

"In reading this book, be very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand." — 1950, L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics, New Era Publications, published 1999, →ISBN, →OCLC, page ix:

"Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined, in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths." — 2013 June 14, Sam Leith, “Where the Profound Meets the Profane”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 1, page 37:

"With his legal maneuverings, Trump is showing that he also understands the implications of this election — one that could give him substantial powers as president to defray or dismiss many of the legal threats that he’s facing and to behave in office without future accountability." — 2024 February 5, Stephen Collinson, “Trump’s legal battles are at a critical moment with major implications for the 2024 election”, in CNN:

"‘[…] I came back here, had a wank and finished that book.’ ‘The Naked Lunch?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘What did you reckon?’ ‘Crap.’ ‘You’re just saying that because you didn’t understand it,’ said Adrian. ‘I’m just saying that because I did understand it,’ said Tom. ‘Any road up, we’d better start making some toast.[…]’" — 1991 September, Stephen Fry, chapter 1, in The Liar, London: Heinemann, →ISBN, section I, page 14:

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