1
as in agreements
an arrangement about action to be taken
the tenants came to an understanding with the landlord that they would be able to renew their leases for the same rent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in perceptions
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something
a social observer with a deep understanding of the problems that the nation's cities face in the 21st century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 understandings
The realism, though, comes in the particularity of the Spanish dialogue, the cultural exchanges, and colloquial understandings that run through this community — and from Mexico to the United States.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
In the twelfth century, understandings of bodies and illnesses were grounded in humoral theory, and Hildegard followed these principles in her writings about conception, birth, and physical maternity.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
This patchwork of assurances and understandings held throughout the year of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters that followed Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
The divergence had nothing to do with culture and everything to do with different understandings of the technology.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
More to Explore Matamonasa-Bennett suggests rethinking approaches to EAT with the help of understandings of human-animal relationships found in Indigenous cultures.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2026
Gelb said the broad crime rate decreases have made some criminologists question historic understandings of what drives trends in violent crime and how to battle it.
—Claudia Lauer, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
And as states started to abandon Common Core, school controversies began to focus less on standards and achievement than on competing understandings of America itself.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
This ambitious agenda puts the spotlight on the country’s sports diplomacy, in which athletic endeavors serve as an arena for gaining influence, cultivating international leadership, interacting with foreign audiences, and facilitating conversations that can lead to better understandings.
—Time, 9 Dec. 2025
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
In the twelfth century, understandings of bodies and illnesses were grounded in humoral theory, and Hildegard followed these principles in her writings about conception, birth, and physical maternity.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
This patchwork of assurances and understandings held throughout the year of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters that followed Hamas’ October 2023 attack on southern Israel.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
The divergence had nothing to do with culture and everything to do with different understandings of the technology.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
More to Explore Matamonasa-Bennett suggests rethinking approaches to EAT with the help of understandings of human-animal relationships found in Indigenous cultures.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2026
Gelb said the broad crime rate decreases have made some criminologists question historic understandings of what drives trends in violent crime and how to battle it.
—Claudia Lauer, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
And as states started to abandon Common Core, school controversies began to focus less on standards and achievement than on competing understandings of America itself.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
This ambitious agenda puts the spotlight on the country’s sports diplomacy, in which athletic endeavors serve as an arena for gaining influence, cultivating international leadership, interacting with foreign audiences, and facilitating conversations that can lead to better understandings.
—Time, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understandings
Noun
-
City officials and economic development professionals have claimed to have signed non-disclosure agreements with the company, limiting their ability to talk about the project publicly.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s March 23 visit to Russia included agreements on oil and gas cooperation, alongside nuclear energy, as rising diesel prices begin to squeeze Vietnam’s manufacturing sector.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Research that examines community perceptions can help scientists and public health officials design prevention programs that are both practical and acceptable to the people who live in tick-endemic areas.—
Emily Bache,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Today, Waxman told me, what happens in the region profoundly shapes the security and perceptions of Jews in the diaspora.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Brown told reporters the agreement with New Zealand didn’t affect his country’s other pacts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Ukraine signed 10-year security pacts with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with a UAE agreement expected soon, expanding Kyiv’s Middle Eastern defense partnerships.—
Volodymyr Yurchuk,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Played on the show by Sarah Pidgeon, audiences on TikTok have gone into a frenzy with appreciations and tutorials showing how to style Besette staples like a white shirt, pencil skirt, and headband.—
Valentina Bottoni,
Vanity Fair,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Brian LaCroix, restaurant operator at Chick-fil-A, said the fast food chain will no longer be offering the military appreciations special.—
Rosanna Fraire,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
It’s been very exciting, seeing everyone at conventions dressed as me in my outfits.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The process is quick and unremarkable to anyone familiar with the studio-shoot culture of the city, where the backdrops change but the conventions stay the same.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Through universal intelligent manipulation, the robot autonomously plans grasps, adjusts force in real time, and navigates obstacles using seamless hand–eye coordination.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The Hurricanes needed that to happen after the game nearly slipped out of their grasps.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Understandings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understandings. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
