comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'comprehend' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'comprehend' when referring to understanding or grasping something. Example sentence: I didn't comprehend what she meant when she said that.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What Rogers had described to me – protests, sit-ins, demonstrations, occupations, hummus – I can comprehend all that.

The Guardian

She is an energetic anti-poverty campaigner, infuriated by the media's vicious attacks on "benefit scroungers" and the inability of politicians and policymakers to comprehend the slender margins of breadline life.

The Guardian

The New York Times called the report "a portrait of depravity that is hard to comprehend and even harder to stomach".

The Guardian

He said: "I feel very sad because there is nothing worse that I could possibly comprehend than for a parent to lose a child, but then on top of that we had the difficult, upsetting situation where it took quite a while for all of us to persuade the authorities for Andrea's grandparents and aunt to come here.

The Guardian

I began to comprehend something of the awesome range and vigour of place words as they have existed in the numerous languages and dialects of these islands.

The Guardian - Books

Understanding that it affects rich and poor, successful and not so successful, men and women, old and young also helps you to comprehend: this is a universal scourge.

The Guardian - Opinion

Speroni himself is still struggling to comprehend the level of adulation.

The Guardian - Sport

Asked if he thought some members of Bradford's large and ever growing Muslim population would look upon his mission with disapproval, Dutton said: "There may well be, in the same way that I am sure there are some dyed-in-the-wool methodists who will find the idea of having a worship service run by a methodist minister in a brewery as something which is very strange and they couldn't comprehend.

The Guardian

Still can't comprehend how Sweden is in second spot.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In Peckham, some of the distrust was directed towards the Guardian and LSE, which a few participants portrayed as outsiders who would struggle to comprehend the hardships faced in the area.

The Guardian

At some point, I did begin to comprehend what I'd been through and how it had affected me.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "comprehend" when you want to emphasize a complete and thorough understanding of something, especially complex ideas or situations. It suggests a deeper level of understanding than simply 'understanding'.

Common error

Avoid using "comprehend" when a simpler word like "understand" or "get" will suffice. Overusing "comprehend" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "comprehend" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object to complete its meaning, indicating what is being understood. Ludwig provides numerous examples of "comprehend" used in this way, as well as the AI's confirmation that the term is appropriate for standard usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "comprehend" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb that signifies a complete and thorough understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for general use. Analysis of numerous examples reveals that "comprehend" is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While "comprehend" is generally versatile, it is most appropriate when emphasizing a deep grasp of a concept, and should be avoided where simpler words like "understand" would suffice. Related phrases include "grasp the meaning" and "understand fully". Overall, "comprehend" is a valuable term for expressing understanding, especially in formal and complex contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understand fully

Emphasizes the completeness of understanding, removing any ambiguity.

make sense of

Highlights the process of interpreting and organizing information to understand it.

grasp the meaning

Focuses on capturing the intended meaning, rather than a complete understanding.

apprehend the significance

Highlights recognizing the importance or relevance of something.

decipher

Implies a need to decode and actively find the meaning.

fathom the depths of

Implies exploring a complex or profound idea to understand it.

see the point

Indicates understanding the purpose or reason behind something.

get the picture

A more informal way of saying to understand the general idea.

take something in

Implies absorbing information or an experience to understand it.

be aware of

Focuses on being conscious or informed about something, rather than fully understanding it.

FAQs

How to use "comprehend" in a sentence?

You can use "comprehend" to indicate a complete understanding of something, as in "I couldn't "comprehend" the complexity of the situation until I experienced it firsthand".

What can I say instead of "comprehend"?

You can use alternatives like "understand", "grasp", or "fathom" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "comprehend" or "understand"?

Both ""comprehend"" and "understand" are correct, but ""comprehend"" often implies a deeper, more thorough level of understanding than "understand".

What's the difference between "comprehend" and "apprehend"?

"Comprehend" means to fully understand something, while "apprehend" can mean to understand or perceive something, but it can also mean to arrest someone. The context is key.