understand may, however, stress the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.
orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed
comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.
I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this
appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.
failed to appreciate the risks involved
Example Sentences
I can't understand a word you're saying. I don't understand these directions. I want you to stay away from her. Do you understand? I don't understand how this is supposed to work. He doesn't really understand the situation. You should read the book in order to understand more about the subject. I can't understand why she would do such a thing. She's beginning to understand what's going on. You have to understand that I had no other choice. At first we didn't get along, but I think we understand each other now. See More
Recent Examples on the WebTo understand why the new president hoped to channel Adams’ spirit is to discover not only where a daring revolutionary came from but where a revolution did. Stacy Schiff, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Sep. 2022 Even though there is this power crisis, this political corruption, this corporatization, this gentrification, there still is a lot of love in Puerto Rico, and that’s what sometimes people don’t understand. Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2022 For those of us from immigrant families whose parents don’t always understand why journalism is worth the hours, a mug from Henry was a lifeline.Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2022 Moths keep flapping into lightbulbs for reasons scientists still don't quite understand. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 In a cover interview for ELLE's October issue, the model, 42, shared that her 9-year-old daughter Vivian didn't quite understand all the behind-the-scene happenings when recently attending a fashion shoot with her mom. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 People on both sides of these conflicts typically don’t understand what is going on. Paul Podolsky, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Part of the problem is that most people don’t understand the risks involved in getting sick with the virus. Steven Lemongello, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Bill Belichick doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English understandan, from under + standan to stand