understanding1 noununderstanding2 adjective
understandingun‧der‧stand‧ing1 /ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ $ -ər-/ ●●○ W3 noun 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A much greater level of understanding is required to carry out more complex experiments.
- Adams and the police have an understanding -- he gives them information and they don't ask any questions about his activities.
- Demonstrate your empathy and understanding of your children's problems.
- He seems to have very little understanding of economics.
- It was an unspoken understanding between Stu and me that I was going to be a lawyer and he was going to be an engineer.
- Mutual understanding is important in all relationships.
- That was not my understanding of the regulations, and I resent your accusation that I failed to follow them correctly.
- The book gave me an understanding of what it must be like to be addicted to drugs.
- The research may lead to a better understanding of how the disease develops.
- There seems to be a lack of understanding on the part of managers when it comes to employees' personal problems.
- We came to an understanding that I would find a job and my husband would stay home with the baby.
- At field level, this implies a sufficient understanding of the contribution which different parties can make.
- Creating a greater understanding of what the school is about?
- Marryat's readers would bring at least some associations and some understanding to this piece of special pleading.
- The training had been successful, he said, in bringing about alignment of different skills and improving business understanding.
- This is the only way in which indoctrination can be avoided and any real understanding of religion conveyed.
- Too often all that is at fault is the observer's understanding of what other people's statements and actions mean.
- We didn't have any understanding of the business colleges.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that has been agreed
an arrangement that is made when two or more people, countries, or organizations agree to do something: · Eventually all the parties signed the agreement.agreement on: · Congress could not come up with an agreement on a spending plan for next year.make an agreement: · They made a secret agreement not to tell anyone about their plans.have an agreement that: · I thought we had an agreement that you would keep me informed about any changes in the programme.under an agreement: · Under the Geneva agreement, a French force was supposed to remain in South Vietnam until July 1956.
a written agreement between two or more countries, especially to end a war: · The Treaty of Versailles ended the First World War.sign a treaty: · Some countries are still refusing to sign a treaty banning chemical weapons.peace treaty (=a treaty that ends a war): · After months of negotiations, he eventually persuaded them to sign a peace treaty.
a written agreement between two or more countries or political parties in which they promise to support each other or defend each other: · Officials at IBM and Apple declined to comment on a possible pact between the two personal computer makers.· Mexico's Defense Ministry this month signed a pact that allows Mexican troops to train at American bases.
a written legal agreement with all the details of a job or business arrangement, for example what someone must do and how much they will be paid: · My contract says I have to work 35 hours per week.sign a contract (with somebody): · Baltimore officials have confirmed that Olson will sign a two-year contract with the club.break a contract (=to break the rules of a contract): · The company was prosecuted for breaking the contract.
an informal agreement between two people or organizations that is not written down: have an understanding: · Adams and the police have an understanding -- he gives them information and they don't ask any questions about his activities.come to an understanding (that) (=agree after a discussion): · We came to an understanding that I would find a job and my husband would stay home with the baby.understanding between: · It was an unspoken understanding between Stu and me that I was going to be a lawyer and he was going to be an engineer.
an agreement in which both people or groups accept less than they really want: reach/find a compromise: · After several hours of discussions, they managed to reach a compromise.compromise between: · Officials hope to find a compromise between Britain and other EU members.
someone's opinion about the meaning of something someone's opinion about the probable meaning of a statement, result, someone's actions etc: · One possible interpretation is that they want you to resign.interpretation of: · the traditional interpretation of Marx's opinionsbe open to interpretation (=to be able to be interpreted in more than one way): · The word "reasonable" is vague and open to interpretation.
someone's opinion about the meaning of a piece of writing or an action, used especially when they realize that there are other possible meanings: somebody's understanding (of something): · According to my understanding of the letter, it means something quite different.· That was not my understanding of the regulations, and I resent your accusation that I failed to follow them correctly.
someone's opinion about the meaning of a statement, an event, or a situation after considering all the available information: somebody's reading of something: · What's your reading of the latest trade figures?· My reading of the situation is that this conflict is likely to get worse over the next few months.
a feeling of sympathy the feeling you have when you are sorry for someone who is having problems, and you understand how they feel: · Relatives of the aircrash victims were treated with great sympathy.· She looked at him with sympathy.· The trip also is intended to raise money and sympathy for the plight of the Tibetan people.have/feel/express sympathy for somebody: · The Prime Minister expressed outrage at the attack, and sympathy for the families of the victims.deep sympathy (=a very strong feeling of sympathy): · You have my deepest sympathy, and my thoughts are with you.
a feeling that you have when you feel very sorry for someone, often when you are unable to help them: · It's a civil war. They don't want our pity, they need our help.· When I returned to school, my classmates looked at me with pity in their eyes.feel/have pity: · I felt such pity for that young girl sitting alone in the bus station.be full of pity/be filled with pity: · She was full of pity for the little boy with no one to love and care for him.
a strong feeling of pity for someone who is suffering, and a desire to help them: · Of course we must insist on punishment, but the criminal must also be treated with compassion.compassion for/to/towards: · Russell's father had no compassion for his son's physical disabilities.· What are you doing now to show compassion toward the victims of torture?
a sympathetic attitude to someone that is based on your understanding: · Demonstrate your empathy and understanding of your children's problems. · There seems to be a lack of understanding on the part of managers when it comes to employees' personal problems.· The book gave me an understanding of what it must be like to be addicted to drugs.
when you understand something when you understand something, especially a piece of spoken or written language, or the ability to do this: · The teacher gave us a comprehension test.· We tried to explain the causes of the war at a child's level of comprehension.reading comprehension (=ability to understand what you read): · You need to practise your reading comprehension more.beyond somebody's comprehension (=too difficult to understand): · He was caught up in frightening events far beyond his comprehension.
when you understand a situation, subject, idea etc, or someone's ability to do this: · A much greater level of understanding is required to carry out more complex experiments.understanding of: · He seems to have very little understanding of economics.· The research may lead to a better understanding of how the disease develops.
the ability to understand or realize something new about a subject or to more clearly understand the nature of a problem, situation, or subject etc: · Crick soon established himself as a scientist of great insight and creativity.insight into: · We help troubled teenagers gain some insight into their own problems.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge. A good way to enlarge your vocabulary is to read a daily newspaper. Mutual respect is necessary for any partnership to work. European nations can live together in a spirit of mutual trust.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· The authorities don’t seem to have a clear understanding of the problem.
· Scientists continued to gain a greater understanding of the effects of radiation.
· It is hoped that the research will broaden our understanding of the disease.
· The classes really helped to increase our understanding of the subject.
adjectives· All of this will lead to a better understanding of the overseas market.
· Before you begin, it is vital that you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve.
· The degree gives students a thorough understanding of issues relating to housing.
· They lacked any real understanding of the subject.
· The sales force has a good understanding of the market.
· The aim of the examination is to test basic understanding of the written language.
· We have only a limited understanding of how the brain processes this information.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge. A good way to enlarge your vocabulary is to read a daily newspaper. (=get knowledge based on learning and experience)· Drama is one of the key ways in which children can gain an understanding of themselves and of others.
Mutual respect is necessary for any partnership to work. European nations can live together in a spirit of mutual trust.· They attend sporadically, and their basic understanding of history is usually sketchy.· Different aspects of basic understanding are needed in different areas of the world.· The first and third years of the course provide a basic understanding of the industry.· This distinction is basic to an understanding of what was revolutionary in the Copernican achievement.· It is important to have some clear basic understanding of the nature of bereavement and the grief that follows it.
· It is important to have a clear understanding of the impact of legal aid on tribunal representation.· Is there a clear understanding of joint and individual areas of responsibility of headteacher and governors?· Though they stand well apart, there is an intimacy of clear understanding.· This requires a clear understanding of the cellular and biochemical process of wound healing and the mechanisms of individual types of injury.· Equally, it is important that a searcher should have a clear understanding of indexing methods.· A clear understanding of the task by the partner and/or manager is a prerequisite for good communication.· Vital to such decisions is a clear understanding of system functions, failure modes and the consequences of failure.· Meanwhile parents like Gwen Watkins just want their voice to be heard and a clearer understanding of a tragic chain of deaths.
· We should look with deep understanding and compassion upon those whose relationships have failed or are in danger of failing.· Facilities such as these will allow the engineer to possibly gain deeper systems understanding and through this obtain greater diagnostic certainty.· A deeper understanding of the function of leys might emerge if they could be seen in ritual terms.· In this way a deeper understanding should result.· It was in this particular field of difficulty that Balanchine sometimes showed his deep understanding.· He handled superbly and with deep understanding, that basic interrelation of landscape and its prevailing climatic conditions.· If successful, it will produce a deeper understanding of the human face recognition system.· Measurement provides a deeper understanding of variation, and the observation of variation gives a reason to measure.
· Only a life history approach can allow us to follow these threads to a fuller understanding of each person's singular present.· Co-direction ensures that administrative decisions are made with the full understanding of the implications for all participants.· It provides a basis of fuller understanding of allusion, implication and inference.· His brown eyes were full of understanding, and something else she didn't recognise.· We are presenting a view only that educational effects can not be interpreted without a full understanding of sign language.· A full understanding of differences in model properties requires detailed analysis of particular model equations or groups of equations.· So, now that we know what both of these terms entail, I can continue with your full understanding.· She acquiesced with a full understanding of his reserve, and with no lessening in her dedication to his pleasure.
· A general lack of understanding of factor analysis, however, weakened the impact of the study and its effect was minimal.· This would accord with the general understanding of the word objective, i.e. independent of the observer.
· But Barney was a character, a horse of wisdom, fortitude and great understanding.· A campaigning approach is needed to seek better resources and develop greater understanding.· This assumption arose from greater understanding of the complex causes of poverty, but this remained incomplete.· Creating a greater understanding of what the school is about?· The playing here was fluently lyrical and of great understanding.· This increased public concern has highlighted the need for greater information and understanding of these issues.· The trouble is, this does not necessarily lead to greater understanding of why something represents good practice.
· And DeVore, hearing it, had felt he had used it like some secret password; some token of mutual understanding.· By tacit, mutual understanding they returned to the school separately.· It is establishing and keeping up mutual understanding between an organisation and the people it wants to reach.· The programme of the same name will promote growth in mutual understanding and cross community awareness between Protestant and Catholic communities.· Both stressed in particular the importance of the informal Camp David meetings in strengthening mutual understanding and trust.· It must also ensure a mutual understanding of each others needs should such an act, or similar, occur.· There was no farewell kiss, merely a nod of mutual understanding.
· He may find himself liable for taxes that proper understanding would have enabled him to avoid.· A proper understanding of the role of intention in trusts must therefore come from other texts.· It is the proper understanding of this relationship and the nature and application of energy that is crucial to scientific cleaning.· A proper understanding of some one's way of life and their special needs may take time.· A proper understanding of this aspect will allow you to create your own ideas much more easily and effectively.· A proper understanding of the history of the surface of the Earth is not the least of them.· It is unfortunate that the authors avoid mathematical formulae which are essential for a proper understanding of the experiments.
· Both counsellors and clients need to have a real understanding of what constitutes counselling. 4.· This reciprocal position did not make for sincerity and real understanding.· The origin of the bullets is obscure and a real understanding of their energetics is needed to pin it down.· It seems to have been based on real understanding, but little real intimacy.· Had he grasped this shard of hope with any real understanding, she wondered?· We have, however, no more real understanding of this ability than we do of cohesion.· This is the only way in which indoctrination can be avoided and any real understanding of religion conveyed.· Even worse - far worse - I was not I. The terror of wonderment, real understanding, had changed all.
· The Children Act places great emphasis on the child's right to make decisions where he has sufficient understanding to do so.· Where the child has sufficient understanding the court may want to know his or her likely response to the proposed direction.· If the child is of sufficient understanding his views should not simply be disregarded because it is difficult to ascertain them.· At field level, this implies a sufficient understanding of the contribution which different parties can make.· A child with sufficient understanding to give instructions may select his own solicitor.· It also follows from this that understanding consciousness would not be sufficient for understanding mental processes.· It is a matter of fact in each case whether a child has sufficient understanding to make certain decisions or take certain actions.· The House of Lords ruled that she could, provided she had sufficient understanding.
· One that balances leading edge technological capability with a thorough understanding of your business.· Successful practice requires a thorough understanding of how a shift from practical to verbal consciousness occurs and may be facilitated.· Moreover, a thorough understanding of the uses of technology may demand more or less understanding of theoretical science.· To gain a thorough understanding of the concepts presented, the reader is referred to the bibliography.· It has the added value of being firmly rooted in a thorough understanding of technique.· Finally, a thorough understanding of the characteristics and potential of all the channels available is essential for good communication.· The intention here is to provide prospective teachers with a thorough understanding of language as a phenomenon in an educational context.· However, these proposals are not based currently on thorough understanding of the consequences.
VERB· The aim is to achieve a sharper understanding of what is involved in logical ability.· They were his chosen weapons to achieve an understanding with the enemies of Allah.· Marx himself did, however, leave some basic clues as to how we might achieve this kind of understanding of the state.· Until a child has achieved that understanding, a numeral is just a shape with no real meaning.· This can be achieved by understanding more about what is going on.· Perhaps, now that the air had been cleared between them, they might be able to achieve a state of understanding.· But do we achieve any understanding of what their two different Gods are like from this conflict?
· The study provides data on the social cognition of parent-adolescent interaction and contributes to our understanding of the development of moral judgements.· Nevertheless, Bakker has contributed enormously to our understanding of dinosaur biology.· In all of these areas, there are concepts and insights from linguistics which can contribute to pedagogical understanding.· The research is designed to contribute to the understanding of problem drinking among teenagers.· The project aims to contribute to increasing understanding of industrial relations in the public sector.· The work will also contribute to a theoretical understanding of survival strategies and the dynamics of decision-making in conditions of forced migration.· The research will contribute towards our further understanding of the relationship between the media and the policy process.
· The immediate aims are to develop theoretical understanding, suggest research priorities and contribute to thinking about relevant public policies.· Programming is the context used to develop an understanding of many aspects of the application of computers.· To develop an understanding of the psychological aspects of nursing care. 4.· To develop an understanding of the principles of therapeutic diets. 5.· A campaigning approach is needed to seek better resources and develop greater understanding.· Pupils should develop an understanding of heritage, change and continuity, and cause and effect.· I am pleased to report that I believe the various committees are working in unison to further develop the understanding between them.· A closely related objective is to develop children's understanding of the different ways in which meanings are conveyed.
· The social scientist gains an understanding of the meaning of action through living with the group which he wants to understand.· From what has already been said it is possible to gain a rough understanding of the second and third of these claims.· The principal aim of this exploratory research is to gain a better understanding of franchising and the franchising decision.· Facilities such as these will allow the engineer to possibly gain deeper systems understanding and through this obtain greater diagnostic certainty.· Self-assessment Building self-esteem is about appreciating strengths and developing them as much as it is about gaining an understanding of weaknesses.· To gain a thorough understanding of the concepts presented, the reader is referred to the bibliography.· To gain a richer understanding of the problem of holism we must therefore distinguish it from the problem of determinism.· To begin with, it is important to gain a good understanding of the meaning of these aggregates.
· Certainly psychoanalytic theory helps understanding of some actions of people in pre-literate societies, or of children and neurotics in Western societies.· These ideas from psychotherapy help our background understanding of emotional experiences in the later part of the life-cycle.· Accompanying practical nursing experiences in community and hospitals helps to elaborate understanding and develop nursing skills.· Totem and Taboo does not just help our understanding of totemism.· They can all help us in understanding conduct which seems to degrade humanity.· There should always be a willingness to help and an understanding of the guests' anxieties and problems.
· SeaWatch encompasses all our environmental projects and was formed to improve everyone's understanding and respect for the seas.· Your teacher's comments on the essay will help improve your knowledge and understanding.· Initiatives to improve understanding of the burden of ill health due to asthma would be welcome.· The Project has three aims designed to improve our knowledge and understanding of the business community.· Science exists so that we can improve our understanding of naturally occurring phenomena.· Observing and improving our understanding of dominant forcing functions; 3.· To do this effectively we may need to construct typologies and identify patterns that improve our understanding of the problem.
· Even though Piaget was concerned with development and Kelly with personality the comparison increases our understanding of both.· Pupils, especially, might increase their understanding of how they learn.· Because of this they have the potential for increasing self-awareness and deepening understanding both of the judgments made and the objects construed.· The project aims to contribute to increasing understanding of industrial relations in the public sector.· Remember that you are reading not only for historical information but also to increase your historical understanding.· Cumulative contributions by successive generations of researchers create an increased and increasing understanding.· She will be involved in fundraising and increasing understanding of a growing problem.· This is a crucial part of your analytical reading and a fundamental way of increasing your historical understanding.
· Sometimes different people have conflicting frames of reference that can lead to problems of understanding.· Full discussion will lead to a better understanding of the patient.· Thus the same metaphor can lead to diametrically opposite understandings.· X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic techniques continue to provide important clues, leading towards an understanding of the remarkable specificity of enzymatic catalysis.· This leads to a different understanding of all areas of disabled people's lives, the arts included.· The trouble is, this does not necessarily lead to greater understanding of why something represents good practice.· The Art Department leads pupils to an understanding of the language of the artist and designer through practical work.
· It wasn't as if she wanted or needed his complete understanding.· Above all, they will need your loving understanding and support for some time to come.· I do not need your understanding, or your damned sorrow!· Consequently, all engineers need to acquire an understanding of the law and its relevance to risk issues.· Practitioners need a clear understanding of the processes by which social inequalities of various forms are derived from prejudicial and stereotypical attitudes.· However, the firm selling overseas needs an understanding of why they behave in that way.
· Will it do anything to promote peace, international understanding and progress?· The greatest challenge is public education in order to reduce fear and to promote a better understanding of the aims of services.· The programme of the same name will promote growth in mutual understanding and cross community awareness between Protestant and Catholic communities.· How can we use classroom dialogue to promote genuine learning and understanding?· Its aim was to promote peace and international understanding through education.· The Clyde report on the Orkney affair contains recommendations about promoting an understanding of social work's role in communities.· The couple aim to promote greater understanding of meningitis by circulating information to health professionals and the public.
· Measurement provides a deeper understanding of variation, and the observation of variation gives a reason to measure.· To most analysts, the way in which Congressional committees operate provides the key to understanding maps such as those displayed here.· The first and third years of the course provide a basic understanding of the industry.· In one sense it is a simplification, but also it is a clarification which is intended to provide understanding and prediction.· Cells thus provide the key to understanding development because their behaviour brings about embryonic development and is controlled by gene activity.· An opportunity must be provided for understanding - to relate new facts to existing knowledge.· Financial analysis of this type could assist considerably in providing a preliminary understanding of strategic requirements within an industry.· It will provide information and understanding of decisions concerning applied research, an area not previously studied in detail.
· Dear Moira, he wrote, we will have to reach an understanding.· We can not reach an understanding of these divisions if we are constantly denied the alternative perspectives.· Can we reach our destination of understanding of religion that way?· It will also look at the ways in which these explanations can help us reach an understanding of inequality in higher education.· It took a long time for us to reach an understanding.
· There are areas of particular importance which require extra knowledge and understanding from the start.· Term Structure of Interest Rates Effective management of financing sources requires an understanding of the relationship between short-term and long-term interest rates.· Successful practice requires a thorough understanding of how a shift from practical to verbal consciousness occurs and may be facilitated.· The issues discussed should make demands on members, require understanding, discussion of the panacea, introduce, inform, involve.· All aspects of flying require this combination of understanding and self-discipline, and the vital actions make a good starting point.· Even the accusation that the Anonymous Fellowships require a religious understanding and belief is unfounded.· This requires a clear understanding of the cellular and biochemical process of wound healing and the mechanisms of individual types of injury.· Some of the concepts and procedures described are quite complicated and require an understanding of file structures.
· It's also to do with using your own past experiences to show empathy and understanding when others need it.· That a gentleman should do it showed an uncommon understanding of the difficulties involved in running businesses with too much debt outstanding.· The press also showed an encouraging understanding of our mission to establish ourselves as a world-class scientific and engineering services business.· Five-year-olds did not show much understanding of the deductive/empirical distinction at all, even in the deductive marking experiment.· His speculations show his understanding of the need for bold hypotheses and theories.· It was in this particular field of difficulty that Balanchine sometimes showed his deep understanding.· Some showed a deep understanding of doggy psychology.· An initial study showed that children's understanding of emotion changes considerably between 6 and 11 years.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- My understanding is that none of us are required to attend.
- What's your understanding of the letter?
- We said he could stay with us on the understanding that it would just be temporary.
- Darrel had mysteriously signed Littlecote over to Sir John in 1586 on the understanding that he would still be allowed to remain.
- It was possible for a person to be given a legacy on the understanding that he would manumit a slave.
- The reader who has bought your book has bought it on the understanding that this is what will happen.
- The work would be carried out on the understanding that the resulting products would be returned to the country of origin.
- They forget I took the job on the understanding that management of a national team can only be part-time employment.
- They hanged the couple on the understanding that Combe would become part of Berkshire and remain so.
- This expedition was sanctioned on the understanding that there was good money to be won at wrestling.
- This reaction was based on the understanding that atomic bombs cause widespread death and destruction and extreme human suffering.
- By analysing simple situations, with essential features in common, we can gain insight into the behaviour of these complicated beams.
- It is difficult to see how avoiding teaching about what is distinctive of religion can help people gain an understanding of it!
- One way to gain insight into these issues is to view them through the work of some of the main protagonists.
- Pupils use drama to gain insights into moral and social issues in works of literature.
- Self-assessment Building self-esteem is about appreciating strengths and developing them as much as it is about gaining an understanding of weaknesses.
- The trust wants to gain an insight into the county's butterfly population.
- This guidance helped them gain insight into the characteristics that inhibited their own ability to persist and to complete schoolwork.
- To visit them is to gain an insight into what many of our own wetlands must have been like.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveunderstandableunderstandingmisunderstoodnoununderstanding ≠ misunderstandingverbunderstand ≠ misunderstandadverbunderstandably
1[singular, uncountable] knowledge about something, based on learning or experienceunderstanding of How does this add to our understanding of the problem? If you know the neighbourhood, you have an understanding of what the children are like. Linguists currently have little understanding of the exact cause of language change. How can we gain an understanding of other cultures? Over time, you will get a far better understanding of the job. Success depends on a clear understanding of the problem. a basic understanding of AIDS prevention2[countable usually singular] an unofficial or informal agreementcome to/reach an understanding (=stop arguing and agree) My father was furious at first, but eventually we came to an understanding. We had an understanding that Jean-Claude should never be mentioned.3[singular, uncountable] the ability to understand people’s behaviour and to forgive them when they do something wrong: The principal listened to the boy’s story with sympathy and understanding.4 somebody’s understanding (of something) the way in which someone judges the meaning of something: According to my understanding of the letter, it means something quite different.5on the understanding that if you agree to something on the understanding that something else will be done, you agree to it, believing that it will be done: Jack lent Sarah the money on the understanding that she would pay it back next month.COLLOCATIONSverbshave an understanding· The authorities don’t seem to have a clear understanding of the problem.gain/get/develop an understanding· Scientists continued to gain a greater understanding of the effects of radiation.deepen/broaden an understanding· It is hoped that the research will broaden our understanding of the disease.increase/improve/enhance somebody’s understanding· The classes really helped to increase our understanding of the subject.adjectivesa better/greater/deeper understanding· All of this will lead to a better understanding of the overseas market.a clear understanding· Before you begin, it is vital that you have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve.a complete/thorough/full understanding· The degree gives students a thorough understanding of issues relating to housing.a proper/real understanding· They lacked any real understanding of the subject.a good understanding· The sales force has a good understanding of the market.a basic understanding· The aim of the examination is to test basic understanding of the written language.a limited understanding· We have only a limited understanding of how the brain processes this information.understanding1 noununderstanding2 adjective
understandingunderstanding2 adjective EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He's funny, energetic, understanding, and a great teacher.
- I'm sorry I've been so bad-tempered lately. Anyway, thank you for being so understanding.
- Irene often has to take time off work. Fortunately she has a very understanding boss.
- Matt is a very understanding guy.
- My parents were wonderfully understanding throughout my divorce.
- He would have been very understanding and would have helped us to find the right specialist.
- In the first place, the rhetorical perspective advocates understanding attitudes in terms of the wider social context.
- Now I don't call that being very understanding, do you?
- The bank was usually very understanding, and generally gave us some leeway until we were able to sell something.
- They rate themselves as very understanding and believe that women also value shyness.
- What it is to have an understanding wife!
- Your local drug project may be able to put you in touch with an understanding dentist or specialist dental clinic.
THESAURUS
kind to someone who is having problems: · My friends were very sympathetic when I lost my job.· Jill was a very sympathetic listener.· a sympathetic attitude
wanting to help people who are suffering or having problems: · The doctor was a compassionate man who always acted in his patients’ best interests.
not getting angry with someone or criticizing them, because you can see that they have problems: · I have had a lot of time off work, but my boss is very understanding.· an understanding look
caring about other people’s feelings and wanting to help them: · I have very caring parents.· Most of the nurses are very caring.
Longman Language Activatorkind to people who have problems or difficulties if someone is sympathetic when you are having problems, they say kind things to you and show that they feel sad about your situation: · Why don't you talk to Elizabeth? She's always sympathetic.· My friends were extremely sympathetic when they heard I'd lost my job.· Noticing my embarrassment, the teacher gave me a sympathetic smile.
an understanding person is kind and patient when someone has a problem, and does not get angry with them or criticize them: · I'm sorry I've been so bad-tempered lately. Anyway, thank you for being so understanding.· Irene often has to take time off work. Fortunately she has a very understanding boss.
someone who is compassionate wants to help people who are suffering or having problems: · Alice was a compassionate woman who wanted to save children from violence and poverty.· We must try to create a more caring, more compassionate society.
loving and sympathetic, especially so that you want to help people close to you when they are in trouble: · Sharon was lucky to have such caring parents at a time when she needed help.· It is possible for men to be tough and, at the same time, caring and sensitive.
someone who is kind-hearted has a kind and sympathetic character: · Being a kind-hearted woman, she felt sorry for the poor child.· I wouldn't have helped him at all, but then I'm not as kind-hearted as you.
informal someone who will listen sympathetically when you tell them about your problems: · Remember, I'm always here if you need a shoulder to cry on.
someone who is kind and shows sympathy kind to people who are in an unpleasant situation, and ready to comfort them or share their problems: · My friends were all extremely sympathetic when they heard I'd lost my job.· Noticing my embarrassment, the teacher gave me a sympathetic smile.sympathetic to/towards: · Try being a bit more sympathetic towards her -- you might get better results.
sympathetic and patient, even when someone behaves badly, because you understand their problems and feelings: · He's funny, energetic, understanding, and a great teacher.· Irene often has to take time off work. Fortunately she has a very understanding boss.· My parents were wonderfully understanding throughout my divorce.
someone who is compassionate feels a lot of pity for people who are suffering and wants to help them: · The church has inspired countless compassionate men and women to help the needy in times of famine, war, and plague.compassionate to/towards: · Our city has earned a reputation as a place where government is compassionate toward the poor and disadvantaged.
loving and sympathetic, especially so that you want to help people when they are in trouble: · Just because a family has money does not guarantee that the children have responsible and caring parents.· It is possible for men to be tough and, at the same time, caring and sensitive.
someone who will listen sympathetically when you tell them about your troubles: · Remember your mother's always here if you need a shoulder to cry on.· Watt found a sympathetic ear when he described his family's situation to Captain Schiller.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge. A good way to enlarge your vocabulary is to read a daily newspaper. Mutual respect is necessary for any partnership to work. European nations can live together in a spirit of mutual trust.
I was impressed by the depth of her knowledge. A good way to enlarge your vocabulary is to read a daily newspaper. (=get knowledge based on learning and experience)· Drama is one of the key ways in which children can gain an understanding of themselves and of others.
Mutual respect is necessary for any partnership to work. European nations can live together in a spirit of mutual trust.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- By analysing simple situations, with essential features in common, we can gain insight into the behaviour of these complicated beams.
- It is difficult to see how avoiding teaching about what is distinctive of religion can help people gain an understanding of it!
- One way to gain insight into these issues is to view them through the work of some of the main protagonists.
- Pupils use drama to gain insights into moral and social issues in works of literature.
- Self-assessment Building self-esteem is about appreciating strengths and developing them as much as it is about gaining an understanding of weaknesses.
- The trust wants to gain an insight into the county's butterfly population.
- This guidance helped them gain insight into the characteristics that inhibited their own ability to persist and to complete schoolwork.
- To visit them is to gain an insight into what many of our own wetlands must have been like.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveunderstandableunderstandingmisunderstoodnoununderstanding ≠ misunderstandingverbunderstand ≠ misunderstandadverbunderstandably
sympathetic and kind about other people’s problems: Luckily, I have a very understanding boss.► see thesaurus at sympathetic