1
as in agreement
an arrangement about action to be taken
the tenants came to an understanding with the landlord that they would be able to renew their leases for the same rent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in appreciation
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
a social observer with a deep understanding of the problems that the nation's cities face in the 21st century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in compassionate
having or showing the capacity for sharing the feelings of another
a kind and understanding teacher who often helps troubled students
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deriving
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information
as I understand it, this is the best plan that we have
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in knowing
to have a practical understanding of
I think I understand how an engine works now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in deciphering
to have a clear idea of
after a few weeks in Russia I began to understand the language a little bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of understanding
Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Humanity's exploration of the cosmos is a tale of incredible firsts, discoveries driven by a scientific curiosity that has shaped our understanding of the universe and, ultimately, our place within it.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
This is not about rushing to share, but about understanding what’s true for you first.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Noun
Still, the study expands current understanding of the limits of life on Earth and raises new questions about how long organisms can remain viable under the right conditions, potentially reshaping scientific thinking about survival in extreme environments.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Humanity's exploration of the cosmos is a tale of incredible firsts, discoveries driven by a scientific curiosity that has shaped our understanding of the universe and, ultimately, our place within it.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Thanks to Comedy Central and ‘South Park’ fans for being so understanding.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Government officials weren’t the only people interested in understanding Japanese Americans.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
This is not about rushing to share, but about understanding what’s true for you first.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
-
On April 14th, as Kyiv braced for a round of Russian strikes, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, was seven hundred and fifty miles away, in Berlin, forging a defense agreement with Germany, part of a tour of European allies to raise support for military aid.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Set one clear agreement, confirm who’s responsible, and follow through so everything stays consistent without needing to be reset later.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The series’ earnestly naïve sound design (horses neighing, cars revving) only enhanced my appreciation of Joudrey’s sophisticated storytelling.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Among the many paying tribute to Thomas were those whose appreciation stretched back through his long career to his family roots in the thriving Yiddish theater scene of early 20th-century America.—
Penny Schwartz,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her personality was so engaging, made everyone feel seen, heard, cared for, compassionate, fair-minded.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
-
When delivered as intended, hospice remains one of the most compassionate and effective models of care in our healthcare system.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday, a jury found Geisy Rodriguez Brito, 33, of Royal Palm Beach, guilty of human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device but not guilty of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution or witness tampering.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The very legitimacy of deriving general principles from the particulars of experience can never be established from experience without already having the principle in hand.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Watching the trajectory of the baseball and knowing Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill’s ability to rob would-be homers — plus the uncertainty of how well balls fly during night games at Petco Park — Crow-Armstrong figured Merrill would come down with the baseball.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
And there’s judgment — knowing when to act, when to wait, and what action actually fits the situation.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The clicks are part of a growing sperm whale phonetic alphabet that researchers at CETI are deciphering.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to Associated Administrators of Los Angeles/Teamsters Local 2010, which represents about 3,000 LAUSD administrators, roughly 96% of its members voted in favor of the labor pact.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The pact also calls for strengthening operational capacities of the Haiti National Police and Armed Forces of Haiti, defining cooperation protocols with the Gang Suppression Force and the reactivation of the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantlement and Reintegration.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The push and pull of the entertainment industry’s alternating (and/or simultaneous) love and hate for Swift has been a recurring motivator across her storied career, but her conversation with the Times emphasizes how equally damaging that love-bombing has been for her psyche and perception of self.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Each appointment chips away at the credibility of international institutions, reinforcing the perception that political deal-making outweighs basic standards of conduct.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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