Synonyms for understanding
- noun
- adjective
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Knowledge
knowledge, wisdom, sense, perception, discernment, intellect, reason, idea, apprehension, mind, notion, savvy informal, conception, intelligence, head, intelligent, wit, brains, intellection rare
2. Grasp — reason or intelligence; ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge; ability to infer
Other
interpretation, intuition, sympathy, conversation, harmony, accord, acceptation, unanimity, adjustment, entente
Adjective
Definitions
- n. 1
Reason or intelligence; ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge; ability to infer.
She has a solid understanding of particle physics.
- n. 2
The act of one that understands or comprehends; the mental process of discernment of meaning.
There are certain things that defy human understanding.
- adj. 1
Showing compassion, tolerance, and forbearance; sympathetically aware.
Related words
- Word family
- understandingly
- Phrases
- memorandum of understanding
Forms
- Plural
- understandings → knowledges, wisdoms, senses, perceptions…
Choose the right word
Understanding is the Saxon word of the same general import, but is chiefly used of the reasoning powers; the understanding, which Sir Wm.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- sense Who, that has common sense, would do such a thing?
- knowledge Anna married without the knowledge of her parents.
- wisdom We admired his wisdom, not to mention his courage.
- perception Generous behavior reduces the perception of pain.
- conversation Politics was the main topic of their conversation.
- interpretation His interpretation of this matter is too one-sided.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| understanding | rising | |
| sense | rising | |
| knowledge | rising | |
| wisdom | rising | |
| perception | rising | |
| conversation | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- wit1
- 4 letters
- head1, idea3, mind1
- 5 letters
- sense1, grasp1, savvy2
- 6 letters
- reason2, wisdom2, notion2, brains1, accord2
- 7 letters
- harmony3, entente
- 8 letters
- sympathy3, amicable4
- 9 letters
- knowledge2, intellect3, intuition4, unanimity5
- 10 letters
- perception3, adjustment3, conception3, perceptive3
- 11 letters
- intelligent4, discernment3, acceptation
- 12 letters
- conversation4, intelligence4, apprehension4, intellection
- 13 letters
- comprehension4
- 14 letters
- interpretation5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (idea3 = 3 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- entendement
- Deutsch
- Verstand