comprehension
komp-rih-HEHNSHN
Comprehension (noun) means the ability to understand something, or the act of understanding it. Example: “Her comprehension of the material improved after the extra tutoring.”
noun
1
The ability to understand something, or the act of understanding it.
"Her comprehension of the material improved after the extra tutoring."
2
(education) An exercise that tests a reader's understanding of a passage of text.
"The students completed a reading comprehension for homework."
How to use comprehension
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnderstanding — either the mental skill itself, or a school exercise that tests it.
Common pairings
reading comprehension
beyond comprehension
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Word forms
- Plural
- comprehensions
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Her _____ of the material improved after the extra tutoring.
Etymology
From Latin comprehensio, "a taking together," from comprehendere — see "comprehend."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
incomprehension
Related words
Rhymes for comprehension
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for comprehension →
Frequently asked questions
What does “comprehension” mean?
The word “comprehension” means the ability to understand something, or the act of understanding it. In plain terms, understanding — either the mental skill itself, or a school exercise that tests it.
How do you pronounce “comprehension”?
“Comprehension” is pronounced komp-rih-HEHNSHN (/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “comprehension” in a sentence?
Here is “comprehension” used in a sentence: “Her comprehension of the material improved after the extra tutoring.”
What is another word for “comprehension”?
Words with a similar meaning to “comprehension” include understanding.
What part of speech is “comprehension”?
“Comprehension” is a noun.
Where does the word “comprehension” come from?
The word “comprehension” comes from Latin. From Latin comprehensio, "a taking together," from comprehendere — see "comprehend.".
Is “comprehension” a common word?
“Comprehension” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “comprehension” have?
“Comprehension” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ability to understand something, or the act of understanding it.
What is the difference between comprehension and understanding?
Comprehension and understanding are close synonyms, both referring to the ability to grasp meaning, but comprehension is used more often in educational and technical contexts, such as reading comprehension, while understanding is the broader everyday term. In practice the two words can usually be swapped without changing the meaning.
What is a reading comprehension exercise?
A reading comprehension exercise is an educational task that tests how well a reader understands a passage of text, typically through questions about its content, meaning, or details. This specific meaning is common in schools, language learning, and standardized tests.
What is the difference between comprehension and comprehensive?
Comprehension is a noun meaning the ability to understand something, while comprehensive is an adjective meaning complete or covering everything relevant, as in a comprehensive report. The two words share a root but function differently and are not interchangeable.
