Comprehend

//ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnd// verb

verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To understand or grasp fully and thoroughly; to plumb. transitive

    "I just can't comprehend how someone could be a butcher and vegetarian at the same time."

  2. 2
    get the meaning of something wordnet
  3. 3
    To include, comprise; to contain. archaic

    "And lothly mouth, unmeete a mouth to bee, / That nought but gall and venim comprehended […]."

  4. 4
    to become aware of through the senses wordnet
  5. 5
    include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
embraceperceiveabsorbacceptadmitamount

Example

More examples

"The professor was unable to comprehend what I meant."

Etymology

From Middle English comprehenden, from Latin comprehendere (“to grasp”), from the prefix com- + prehendere (“to seize”). Doublet of comprend.

More for "comprehend"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.