understanding

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ʌndəˈstandɪŋ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˌʌndɚˈstændɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: un‧der‧stand‧ing

Noun

Singular understanding

Plural understandings

1. (countable) A person's understanding of something is what they know or think about it.

   Science helps us to gain a better understanding of natural processes.

2. (countable) An understanding is an agreement between two people.

   We had an understanding. You should have fulfilled your end of the bargain.

3. (uncountable) Understanding is your ability to understand the feelings of other people.

   Teachers must listen with kindness and understanding to what the young have to say.

Related words

• misunderstanding

Adjective

Positive understanding

Comparative more understanding

Superlative most understanding

1. An understanding person is able to easily see how someone else feels.

   Thanks for being so understanding about how emotional and erratic I've been acting lately.

Synonyms

• sympathetic

Verb

Plain form understand

Third-person singular understands

Past tense understood

Past participle understood

Present participle understanding

1. The present participle of understand.

   Are you understanding what I'm saying?

   I'm having a hard time understanding the calculus homework. Can you help me?

Related words

• understandable
• understandably
• misunderstand