on the understanding that
idiom
—used to say that something is done, accepted, etc., because one has been told that something else will happen or is true
She agreed to do the work on the understanding that she would be paid now.
Examples of on the understanding that in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As World War II ended, the wartime alliance produced two longer-term partnerships built on the understanding that working together had produced a powerful and effective counter to fascism.
—
Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2026
This was based in part on the understanding that in a democracy the people must be free to criticize those who govern them, a principle enshrined in the First Amendment.
—Kathy Kiely, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Despite Guterres’s words, COP30 will proceed on the understanding that temperature rise can remain below this limit.
—Sophie Yeo, The Dial, 4 Nov. 2025
By tying rent increases to the consumer price index, the state would interfere with property loans which were given on the understanding that apartments would be rented at market value, not the price the state sets, according to the foundation.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 18 Aug. 2025
Whatever happened to acting on the understanding that to be rich is to have little but desire nothing else and to be poor is to have everything but be saddled with a sleepless, insatiable craving for more?
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2024
The circa $80M project was sold all around the world at the EFM and in Cannes to leading independent distributors and Amazon Prime on the understanding that Smith would be starring in it.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2024
This type of research, known as climate attribution science, builds on the understanding that the combustion of fossil fuels for energy has resulted in generally higher temperatures and more intense weather.
—Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 1 June 2024
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Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2026
This was based in part on the understanding that in a democracy the people must be free to criticize those who govern them, a principle enshrined in the First Amendment.
—Kathy Kiely, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Despite Guterres’s words, COP30 will proceed on the understanding that temperature rise can remain below this limit.
—Sophie Yeo, The Dial, 4 Nov. 2025
By tying rent increases to the consumer price index, the state would interfere with property loans which were given on the understanding that apartments would be rented at market value, not the price the state sets, according to the foundation.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 18 Aug. 2025
Whatever happened to acting on the understanding that to be rich is to have little but desire nothing else and to be poor is to have everything but be saddled with a sleepless, insatiable craving for more?
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2024
The circa $80M project was sold all around the world at the EFM and in Cannes to leading independent distributors and Amazon Prime on the understanding that Smith would be starring in it.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2024
This type of research, known as climate attribution science, builds on the understanding that the combustion of fossil fuels for energy has resulted in generally higher temperatures and more intense weather.
—Joan Meiners, The Arizona Republic, 1 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“On the understanding that.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20understanding%20that. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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