understanding

What you know about something and how well you can explain it.

• I have a basic understanding of French.
• The course improved our understanding of plants.
• What is your understanding of the problem?

How to use it: understanding of something (She has a good understanding of local history.)

Similar words: knowledge, comprehension, grasp

Opposites: misunderstanding

Common phrases: understanding of something, basic understanding, better understanding, human understanding

The ability or willingness to recognize how someone feels and treat them kindly.

• Thank you for your understanding.
• The teacher treated him with understanding.
• We need more understanding between parents and children.

How to use it: understanding for someone/something (She showed understanding for his difficulties.)

Similar words: sympathy, empathy

Common phrases: show understanding, patience and understanding, understanding for someone

An agreement between people, often made without a written contract.

• We have an understanding.
• They reached an understanding about the rent.
• Our understanding was that you would finish by Friday.

How to use it: understanding that… (We had an understanding that I would pay for the food.)

Similar words: agreement, arrangement

Opposites: disagreement

Common phrases: reach an understanding, mutual understanding, have an understanding

The ability to think clearly, work things out, and recognize their meaning.

• Her understanding remained sharp.
• These questions test a child's powers of understanding.
• The philosopher explored the limits of human understanding.

Similar words: intellect, reason, intelligence

Common phrases: powers of understanding, human understanding, limited understanding

Able to recognize other people's feelings and problems and treat them kindly.

• My teacher is very understanding.
• She was understanding when I arrived late.
• Try to be more understanding about his worries.

How to use it: understanding about something (My manager was understanding about my family problems.)

Similar words: sympathetic, considerate, kind

Opposites: unsympathetic

Common phrases: understanding friend, very understanding, understanding about something