SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
comprehend
verb
To grasp the meaning, nature, or significance of something.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Understand the meaning
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topGet the picture is informal; fathom suggests grasping something difficult or hidden.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See comprehend in use
The class used a model to comprehend how the separate parts fit together.
A student tried to comprehend a short play's final decision by tracing the promises its characters had made in earlier scenes.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license