understandably
Variant of understand
under·stand (un′dər stand′)
transitive verb understood -·stood′, understanding -·stand′·ing
- to get or perceive the meaning of; know or grasp what is meant by; comprehend to understand a question
- to gather or assume from what is heard, known, etc.; infer are we to understand that you want to go?
- to take as meant or meaning; interpret to understand his silence as refusal
- to take for granted or as a fact it is understood that no one is to leave
- to supply mentally (an idea, word, etc.), as for grammatical completeness
- to get as information; learn
- to know thoroughly; grasp or perceive clearly and fully the nature, character, functioning, etc. of
- to have a sympathetic rapport with no one understands me
Etymology: ME understanden < OE understandan, lit., to stand among, hence observe, understand
intransitive verb
- to have understanding, comprehension, sympathetic awareness, etc., either in general or with reference to something specific
- to be informed; believe he is, I understand, no longer here
Related Forms:
- understandable un′der·stand′·able adjective
- understandably un′der·stand′·ably adverb
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Browse dictionary definitions near understandably
Share on Facebook