third-person singular verb
She, he, or another person knows what words, speech, or information mean.
She understands the complex instructions easily.
The teacher understands the students' questions.
American English
How to pronounce understands
verbA2Very common word
uhndersTAANDZ
/ˌən.dɚsˈtʰændz/
3 syllables · Stress the third syllable.
Form of understand
She, he, or another person knows what words, speech, or information mean.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
third-person singular verb
She, he, or another person realizes what a fact or situation means, or why it happened.
Now she understands why the meeting was canceled.
He understands that the plan may change.
third-person singular verb
She, he, or another person knows how someone feels and why that person behaves in a certain way.
She understands how her son feels.
He understands why his friend is upset.
Useful expressions
to understand someone's reasons or feelings
I understand where you're coming from.
to communicate clearly enough for people to understand you
Speak slowly to make yourself understood.
Related words & forms
The past and past participle are understood, not understanded.