Definition of comprehendnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word comprehend distinct from other similar verbs?

The words appreciate and understand are common synonyms of comprehend. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

When is it sensible to use appreciate instead of comprehend?

While the synonyms appreciate and comprehend are close in meaning, appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

failed to appreciate the risks involved

How are the words understand and comprehend related?

Both understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable, with understand sometimes stressing the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.

orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of comprehend But the humanity in our work, the things AI will never fully comprehend or automate, now commands premium compensation. Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026 At Bellevue, Bessie Ramseur had also been unable to comprehend why this had happened to her son, James. Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026 According to the suit, the practitioners didn’t order blood tests for Lindsay, often met with her virtually when in-person visits would have been more conducive to treatment, and failed to fully comprehend the severity of her deterioration. Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026 At over 5,000 square miles, the vastness of Vatnajökull National Park can feel difficult to comprehend. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for comprehend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comprehend
Verb
  • The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Those many Americans who still understand that freedom is the magic elixir that drives growth and prosperity are exiting blue states, leaving them to stew in their left-wing, socialist, low-growth and low-opportunity juices.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Bass, who was politically weakened by her performance during the fire and its aftermath, was already facing more than two dozen challengers looking to oust her in the June 2 primary — the vast majority little known to the public and not expected to pose any threat.
    David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • One note e-mailed Monday to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson included information that only the abductor would know, anchor Mary Coleman told CNN.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Kindergarten readiness encompasses the foundational skills necessary to engage in a more formal learning environment, said Ohio State University educational psychology professor Laura Justice.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The supply plan encompasses multiple sub-brands, including Qiyuan, Deepal, Avatr, and Uni, thereby positioning the technology for broader adoption across various vehicle segments.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • How fans experience the game and how referees decipher controversial calls will only get better as visual AI advances.
    Jason Corso, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Health care professionals are now caught between deciphering new legislation and their duty to provide quality care.
    Eleanor Sobel, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As court proceedings have begun, some of those documents will be coming unsealed, including the affidavit.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
  • By the end of that format’s 12-year run, including several instances in which the best overall driver of the year was shut out from the title or even competing in the championship race, a majority of fans and drivers were more than ready for something else.
    Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Johnson’s daughter, six-year-old Adelynn, didn’t immediately grasp his rooting interest.
    Sam McDowell February 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The Hoka boots have a durable and winter-proof mesh upper made mostly of recycled polyester, and a Vibram Megagrip EVA sole engineered to grasp the slickest surfaces.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Wright, who formerly worked as a detective, said the video contains apparent facial features such as a mustache and that investigators should be able to calculate height, shoe size and brands of clothing.
    Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Her life’s work was stolen early Monday when thieves swiped a shipping box containing many of her puppets from outside her Beachwood Canyon apartment.
    Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Even the winter sun seemed to recognize the gravity of the moment, breaking through the clouds to illuminate the private dining room for the entirety of that historic afternoon.
    Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In recent news, FinalSpark’s Neuroplatform was accessed by a team from the University of Bristol this past summer to explore whether organoids can learn to recognize tactile information – aka Braille.
    Matthew S Williams, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Comprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comprehend. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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