understand

v

1. comprehend, fathom, penetrate, learn, savvy, glean, get the idea, Inf. get it, Sl. get into, Inf. get through one's head, U.S. Inf. figure out, Inf. psych out; grasp, seize, Inf. catch on, Sl. get the hang of, Inf. get the drift of, Inf. get a fix on, Brit. lay hold of, Sl. latch onto; perceive, apprehend, discern, make out, Inf. make heads or tails of, Brit. twig; recognize, see, see through, see the light, get the picture, read, read [s.o.] like a book, read [s.o.'s] mind.

2. know, cognize, be acquainted with, be familiar with, have knowledge of, Inf. know the ropes, Inf. pick up; be cognizant of, be conscious of, be aware of, be in the know; master, feel comfortable with, be conversant with.

3. assimilate, absorb, digest, take in, appreciate.

4. gather, hear, learn of, get word, hear of, get wind of.

5. believe, opine, think, fancy, take it, conceive; infer, surmise, conjecture, conclude, take to mean; presume, suppose, estimate, figure, Inf., Dial. reckon; assume, daresay, venture to say, take for granted; interpret, construe, deduce, reason.

6. empathize with, show compassion for, commiserate, pity; sympathize with, be in sympathy with; tolerate, accept.