understanding
/ʌndəˈstandɪŋ
/noun [mass noun]
1The ability to understand something; comprehension: foreign visitors with little understanding of English...
- It may not be until June or July of next year until a more comprehensive understanding of the problem is reached.
- He constantly strives to increase his abilities and his understanding of the obstacles around him.
- Our understanding of and ability to control quantum systems have never been so good.
Synonyms
comprehension, apprehension, grasp, grip, mastery, perception, discernment, appreciation, interpretation, cognizance, ken, conception, digestion, assimilation, absorption;
knowledge, awareness, consciousness;
insight into, familiarity with, acquaintance with;
skill in, expertise in, proficiency in
informal know-how
1.1The power of abstract thought; intellect: a child of sufficient intelligence and understanding...
- I am aware, and hope I have also made it clear to the reader, that merely intellectual understanding is not sufficient.
- Wisdom and understanding have always been powerful and effective weapons against a poor belief/approach.
- The essay is an examination of the nature of the human mind and its powers of understanding.
Synonyms
intellect, intelligence, mind, brainpower, capability, insight, judgement, sense, reason, reasoning;
intuition, shrewdness, sharpness, quickness, acumen, sagacity, perspicacity, wisdom, wit;
thought, mentality;
brains, powers of reasoning/intuition;
French savoir faire
informal grey matter, nous, savvy, know-how
1.2An individual’s perception or judgement of a situation: my understanding was that he would find a new supplier...
- His understanding of the situation was that a fracas had spilled over from the field of play to where substitutes were sitting and they got involved.
- This has been an unfortunately brief, but crucial attempt at increasing our understanding of the situation we find ourselves in.
- My understanding of the situation regarding the region was also influenced by his work.
Synonyms
belief, perception, view, notion, idea, conclusion, conviction, feeling, opinion, intuition, impression, assumption, supposition, postulation, way of thinking, point of view;
suspicion, sneaking suspicion, hunch, funny feeling
2Sympathetic awareness or tolerance: he wrote with understanding and affection of the people of Dent...
- They have shown no compassion, no understanding, no tolerance, and especially, no patience.
- Tolerance and understanding develops between Ruth and other members of the household.
- Every story he tells in some way teaches tolerance and understanding.
Synonyms
compassion, sympathy, pity, empathy, feeling, concern, considerateness, consideration, tenderness, tender-heartedness, kindness, kind-heartedness, sensitivity, insight, fellow feeling, brotherly love, neighbourliness, decency, humanity, humanitarianism, humaneness, charity, goodwill, mercy, mercifulness, gentleness, tolerance, lenience, leniency, warmth, warm-heartedness, affection, love
3 [count noun] An informal or unspoken agreement or arrangement: he and I have an understanding he had only been allowed to come on the understanding that he would be on his best behaviour...
- How do we establish mutual agreements or common understandings while respecting diversity?
- They just do not come close to telling the whole story, since informal understandings and norms are crucial in determining outcomes.
- All was talk except for what mattered most, which were unspoken understandings.
Synonyms
agreement, gentleman's agreement, arrangement, deal, bargain, settlement, pledge, promise, pact, compact, contract, concord, treaty, covenant, bond
adjective
1Sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings; tolerant and forgiving: a kind and understanding man people expect their doctor to be understanding...
- When your partner is a comic book artist you have to be very understanding and tolerant of their life style, which seems to mean having little life besides comics.
- I became a totally different person, more knowledgeable, more tolerant, more understanding.
- But being the tolerant, understanding guy that I am, I wanted to know more.
Synonyms
compassionate, sympathetic, sensitive, considerate, tender, kind, kindly, kind-hearted, thoughtful, tolerant, patient, forbearing, lenient, merciful, forgiving, humane, human, good-natured, approachable, supportive, reassuring;
tactful, diplomatic, perceptive, subtle, prudent
2 archaic Having insight or good judgement.If you lack understanding and meditative insight, this test could become an obstacle.
Derivatives
understandingly
/ adverb ...- ‘It's okay’, Vince assured him understandingly.
- ‘Ah, I see,’ he suddenly nodded understandingly.
- ‘You've been through a lot,’ he said understandingly.