already understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"already understood" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you could say, "The instructions were already understood by the team." Here, the phrase means that the team has already understood and processed the instructions that were given to them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She saw that they already understood that.

The New Yorker

She already understood all about the workings of the mechanism.

The New Yorker

stay (average age: 83) confirmed what many geriatricians already understood.

The New York Times - Health

What he thematized is thus the explanation of what is already understood.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She already understood, she said, that the local community college would be beyond her reach.

The New York Times - Magazine

They already understood that those scores would not matter if they failed to beat Dallas.

The New York Times - Sports

When Vander Heiden arrived in Thompson's lab in 1996, part of the explanation was already understood.

MIT Technology Review

It's already understood, and then you can get to the really good stuff.

The Guardian - Film

Maybe Dae'Anna was too young to understand, or maybe she already understood well enough.

The Washington Post

Investors have already understood this prospect: Interest rates on long-term bonds have jumped recently.

The Washington Post

Hackgate reveals the mechanisms of a network of corruption whose broad outlines were already understood.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "already understood" to clearly indicate that a concept or information was previously comprehended, avoiding unnecessary repetition or explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "already understood" in overly complex sentences where it might create ambiguity. Ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates what was previously understood to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already understood" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a state of prior comprehension or knowledge. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is widely used and grammatically correct. It often appears to provide context or justification for subsequent actions or decisions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already understood" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates prior comprehension. As shown by Ludwig, it functions as an adjective phrase, often emphasizing shared knowledge or justifying subsequent actions. The phrase sees broad application across various domains, including news, academic writing, and scientific discourse. It serves to clarify that information was previously grasped, preventing unnecessary repetition and streamlining communication. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and is a valuable tool for expressing pre-existing understanding in a clear and concise manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previously grasped

Replaces "understood" with "grasped", emphasizing the mental apprehension of something in the past.

had already known

Focuses on prior knowledge rather than comprehension, suggesting familiarity with the information.

was already aware

Highlights the state of being informed about something beforehand.

knew beforehand

Emphasizes the timing of the knowledge, suggesting it was known in advance.

had prior knowledge of

Formally indicates possession of information before a specific event or time.

was conversant with

Implies familiarity and ease of understanding a particular subject or topic.

possessed prior understanding

Highlights the pre-existing state of comprehension before new information is presented.

had internalized

Suggests the information was not just understood, but fully integrated into one's thinking.

was cognizant of

Formally indicates being aware and having knowledge of something.

had anticipated

Implies not only understanding but also expecting something beforehand.

FAQs

How can I use "already understood" in a sentence?

You can use "already understood" to indicate that something was previously comprehended, for example, "The team "already understood" the assignment, so we moved on to the next task."

What can I say instead of "already understood"?

Alternatives to "already understood" include "previously grasped", "had already known", or "was already aware", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "already understood"?

While "understood" implies a level of prior knowledge, "already understood" emphasizes that the understanding occurred before the current context. Whether it's redundant depends on the specific sentence and the need for emphasis.

Which is correct, "already understood" or "all ready understood"?

"Already understood" indicates prior comprehension. "All ready understood" is grammatically incorrect. The phrase you're likely looking for is "already understood".