noun

understanding

uhn-duh-STANDIHNG

noun

The mental grasp of what something means or how it works.

"Her understanding of physics helped her fix the machine."

"He has a basic understanding of French but can't hold a full conversation."

An informal agreement between people.

"They reached an understanding about how to split the bills."

adjective

Showing sympathy and willingness to tolerate someone's situation or mistakes.

"Her boss was understanding when she needed time off for the funeral."

How to Use Understanding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the knowledge you have of something, an unspoken agreement between people, or being sympathetic toward someone.

Common pairings

mutual understanding come to an understanding understanding boss

more understanding comparative, understandings plural, most understanding superlative

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Her _____ of physics helped her fix the machine.

From Old English understanding, formed from understand plus the noun-forming suffix -ing.

landing handing sanding standing branding demanding upstanding commanding outstanding grandstanding notwithstanding misunderstanding