Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To take in the meaning, nature, or importance of; grasp. synonym: understand.
- transitive verb To have as part of something larger; encompass or include. synonym: include.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To take in, include, or embrace within a certain scope; include.
- To include within limits of any kind; especially, to include in the constitution or nature.
- To include in meaning or in logical scope.
- To take into the mind; grasp by the understanding; possess or have in idea; understand the force, nature, or character of; conceive; know sufficiently for a given purpose; specifically, to understand in one of the higher degrees of completeness: as, to
comprehend an allusion, a word, or a person. - To take together; sum up.
- Synonyms To contain.
- Apprehend, Comprehend (see
apprehend ), discern, perceive, see, catch. - To take hold; take root; take.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To contain; to embrace; to include.
- transitive verb To take in or include by construction or implication; to comprise; to imply.
- transitive verb To take into the mind; to grasp with the understanding; to apprehend the meaning of; to understand.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb get the meaning of something
- verb to become aware of through the senses
- verb include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word comprehend.
Examples
-
And under no latitude of construction will the term comprehend consuls.
-
And under no latitude of construction will the term comprehend consuls.
The Federalist Papers Alexander Hamilton 1780
-
What your [name calling deleted] mind cannot comprehend is that global warming, or climate change, does not mean that every day is always hotter than the last.
-
Our country, in case you are too stupid to comprehend, is being ruined by the policies of this administration.
-
Is this all what you were able to comprehend from the article ..?
Think Progress » Steele: ‘Trust Me, After Taxes, A Million Dollars Is Not A Lot Of Money’ 2010
-
A complicated process of protection broken down for the everyday user to better comprehend is a necessity as also is the ability of the software to safeguard our privacy.
-
Of course, what nobody can comprehend, is how the IDF has managed to dehumanize the Palestinians to such extent that they can brutal kill women and children.
Matthew Yglesias » Foxman: Mitchell is “Fair” and I’m Unhappy About It 2009
-
What I cannot comprehend is how gullible people are.
Sebelius: There will be competition with private insurers 2009
-
What these persons fail to comprehend is that the rules were written by God, and God does not allow any of these 4 tactics.
Diocese of Niagara: Repugnant ritualistic practices « Anglican Samizdat 2010
-
What these people fail to comprehend is that the new administration is full of new, young blood.
Republican on new media: You can teach an old dog new tricks 2009
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.