understandableun‧der‧stand‧a‧ble /ˌʌndəˈstændəbəl $ -dər-/ ●○○ adjective 
It is understandable that parents are angry, and looking for someone to blame. He just can’t face anyone at the moment, which is perfectly understandable. an understandable mistake2able to be understood—understandably adverb: They were understandably upset.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Although I don't approve of his actions, I think they are understandable.
- It's understandable that she doesn't want to see Bill again.
- That teachers are annoyed about having so much extra paperwork is understandable.
- There is understandable anger among the victims' families.
- Some at least of the leading Romans felt and behaved in a way which seemed to him perfectly understandable and eminently sensible.
- The impulse to put safety first is understandable enough, but it is hardly a formula either for dynamism or for originality.
- The only understandable reason to hold back would be if you didn't know the answer yourself.
- Their philosophy may have seemed reckless and naive but, given the nature of the marketplace, it was understandable.
- This attitude is, to me, completely understandable, largely laudable and not at all unique to Mrs Clinton.
- This fear is sometimes understandable, but not all statutes divide Parliament on party lines.
- This is understandable, considering drug research can take 20 years and cost upwards of £200 million.
- This was an understandable reaction to the gruelling nature of the work.
Longman Language Activatorto understand how someone feels
to understand how someone feels, and feel sympathy for them, especially when they are upset or have problems: · I'm sure your teacher will understand.understand how/what/why etc: · I understand how you feel, but I still think you should apologize to her.
especially spoken to understand how someone feels and why they feel that way, especially because the reasons are very clear: see why/how/what: · You can see why Clare was so annoyed, can't you?see that: · I can see that you'd find that upsetting.
formal to understand clearly how someone feels or what problems they have: · Congress did not appreciate the amount of anger that people felt about this issue.· Parents have to find ways to show their children that they appreciate their feelings and reactions.appreciate (that): · I appreciate that it's not easy for you, but you must try to get here on time.
to understand how someone feels, because you have had the same feelings or experiences yourself: · I know how you feel. I couldn't watch either - it was too upsetting.know how it feels (to do something): · Believe me, I know how it feels to lose.
say this when you want someone to imagine they are in the same situation as another person, so that they can understand how the other person feels: · Well, put yourself in her place. Would you like it if someone did that to you?
feelings or attitudes that are understandable , especially feelings of anger, annoyance, or fear, do not surprise you because you can see that there are good reasons for them: · That teachers are annoyed about having so much extra paperwork is understandable.· There is understandable anger among the victims' families.it is understandable that: · It's understandable that she doesn't want to see Bill again.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It is understandable that parents are angry, and looking for someone to blame. He just can’t face anyone at the moment, which is perfectly understandable.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
It is understandable that parents are angry, and looking for someone to blame. He just can’t face anyone at the moment, which is perfectly understandable.· He had an understandable reluctance to accuse his friend of lying.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· This attitude is unfortunate, but entirely understandable.· The Opposition's approach is revealing, although entirely understandable with the way the polls are going.· But there are parents who lose control of their children most often for reasons that are entirely understandable.
· The facts made the contempt he had felt for her, six years ago at any rate, even more understandable.· Looked at that way, she might have found the war criminals more understandable.· Such information may actually be more understandable to financial statement readers and, therefore, more relevant to their needs.· If this was in fact the case, it makes Rolle's aversion to church music more understandable.
· For example, the speech we hear over a telephone line is perfectly understandable.· This idolatrous crowd postulates an ideal worthy of itself and appropriate to its nature, that is perfectly understandable.· That's perfectly understandable, but it's not good sense.· Some at least of the leading Romans felt and behaved in a way which seemed to him perfectly understandable and eminently sensible.· This is perfectly understandable if in fact after passives the to infinitive evokes a mental construct.· In terms of his own situation and interests this attitude is perfectly understandable.· This clause appears perfectly understandable from the viewpoint of a supplier of drivers.· That was perfectly understandable, because what we were proposing was so essentially and uniquely horrible.
· But this desperation was perhaps understandable.· In the case of a particularly large breed this is perhaps understandable, because of the sheer weight.· This is perhaps understandable, but it is stretching credulity to expect us to bless it as the highest human freedom.
· Given the situation this is quite understandable.· Since the respective philosophies involve different methods and aims, the differences in results are quite understandable.· But it was actually quite understandable.· Thus, it is quite understandable to find the same transaction accounted for in different ways according to different systems.· It was illogical, but quite understandable, and she respected that.· The quite understandable confusion comes in the area of just what is meant by persuasion and permission.
· Joshua 6 and the rest are most readily understandable, and that is precisely why they are so alarming.· A warning notice must be readily understandable and clear symbols explaining the danger are required.· Welfare rights services, for example could be defined in a variety of ways which may not make them readily understandable.
NOUN· The only understandable reason to hold back would be if you didn't know the answer yourself.· For understandable reasons, Toyota wanted no part of the Fremont location and its history of intractable problems.· The salerooms For understandable reasons, salerooms are reluctant to discuss, or even let their employees discuss, individual salaries.· Nelson was headed home from work, which is an understandable reason to go out.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveunderstandableunderstandingmisunderstoodnoununderstanding ≠ misunderstandingverbunderstand ≠ misunderstandadverbunderstandably
1understandable behaviour, reactions etc seem normal and reasonable because of the situation you are in: It is understandable that parents are angry, and looking for someone to blame. He just can’t face anyone at the moment, which is perfectly understandable. an understandable mistake2able to be understood—understandably adverb: They were understandably upset.