UNDERSTANDING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does understanding mean? 

• UNDERSTANDING (noun)
  The noun UNDERSTANDING has 4 senses:

1. the cognitive condition of someone who understands

2. the statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises

3. an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion

4. the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination

  Familiarity information: UNDERSTANDING used as a noun is uncommon.

• UNDERSTANDING (adjective)
  The adjective UNDERSTANDING has 1 sense:

1. characterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy

  Familiarity information: UNDERSTANDING used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNDERSTANDING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The cognitive condition of someone who understands

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

apprehension; discernment; savvy; understanding

Context example:

he has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect

Hypernyms ("understanding" is a kind of...):

knowing (a clear and certain mental apprehension)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "understanding"):

self-knowledge (an understanding of yourself and your goals and abilities)

smattering (a slight or superficial understanding of a subject)

appreciation; grasp; hold (understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something)

grasping (understanding with difficulty)

hindsight (understanding the nature of an event after it has happened)

brainstorm; brainwave; insight (the clear (and often sudden) understanding of a complex situation)

realisation; realization; recognition (coming to understand something clearly and distinctly)

comprehension (an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result))

Derivation:

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

understand (perceive (an idea or situation) mentally)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

agreement; understanding

Context example:

there was an understanding between management and the workers

Hypernyms ("understanding" is a kind of...):

statement (a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc)

Meronyms (parts of "understanding"):

condition; strings; term ((usually plural) a statement of what is required as part of an agreement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "understanding"):

suicide pact (an agreement by two or more people to commit suicide together at a given place and time)

severance agreement (an agreement on the terms on which an employee will leave)

settlement (a conclusive resolution of a matter and disposition of it)

reservation (the written record or promise of an arrangement by which accommodations are secured in advance)

oral contract (an agreement that is not in writing and is not signed by the parties but is a real existing contract that lacks only the formal requirement of a memorandum to render it enforceable in litigation)

entente; entente cordiale (a friendly understanding between political powers)

submission (an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter)

written agreement (a legal document summarizing the agreement between parties)

gentlemen's agreement (a personal agreement based on honor and not legally binding)

working agreement (an informal agreement to work together)

bargain; deal (an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each)

sale; sales agreement (an agreement (or contract) in which property is transferred from the seller (vendor) to the buyer (vendee) for a fixed price in money (paid or agreed to be paid by the buyer))

unilateral contract (a one-sided agreement whereby you promise to do (or refrain from doing) something in return for a performance (not a promise))

covenant ((Bible) an agreement between God and his people in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior from them in return)

fair-trade agreement (an agreement (illegal in the United States) between the manufacturer of a trademarked item of merchandise and its retail distributors to sell the item at a price at or above the price set by the manufacturer)

confederacy; conspiracy (a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

sympathy; understanding

Context example:

I knew I could count on his understanding

Hypernyms ("understanding" is a kind of...):

disposition; inclination; tendency (an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others)

Derivation:

understand (be understanding of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

intellect; reason; understanding

Context example:

we are told that man is endowed with reason and capable of distinguishing good from evil

Hypernyms ("understanding" is a kind of...):

faculty; mental faculty; module (one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind)

• UNDERSTANDING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy

Context example:

an understanding friend

Similar:

perceptive (having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment)

 Context examples 

Catherine's understanding began to awake: an idea of the truth suddenly darted into her mind; and, with the natural blush of so new an emotion, she cried out, Good heaven!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Anne listened, but without quite understanding it.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“No doubt, my dear Jane,” returned my mother, “your understanding is very vigorous—”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

For, innocent and unsuspicious as she was, she could not help understanding the gossip of her friends.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was not long before a good understanding took place between this lady and herself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Nature gave you understanding:—Miss Taylor gave you principles.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Understanding the genetics of the virus will also help in the development of new and improved drugs and vaccines.

(Genetics of the 2014 Ebola Outbreak, NIH)

I shall devote myself to understanding them.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A document explaining all relevant study information to assist the study volunteer in understanding the expectations and requirements of participation in a clinical trial.

(Consent form, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about an individual's difficulty understanding at its worst.

(Difficulty Understanding at its Worst, NCI Thesaurus)