not completely grasp

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not completely grasp" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone has a partial understanding of a concept or idea. Example: "Despite the lengthy explanation, I still do not completely grasp the main idea of the theory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Steve Schuster, founder of Schuster Products in Milwaukee, maker of Blitz mints: "Ms. Rosshandler finds herself in a precarious cash-flow position and — typical of many start-up entrepreneurs — may not completely grasp how much money she actually will need to grow her brand to a reasonable level of distribution.

The New York Times

WHAT OTHERS SAY Steve Schuster, founder of Schuster Products in Milwaukee, maker of Blitz mints: "Ms. Rosshandler finds herself in a precarious cash-flow position and — typical of many start-up entrepreneurs — may not completely grasp how much money she actually will need to grow her brand to a reasonable level of distribution.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

After class, Krystal Bautista, 18, who said she wanted to go to law school and become a criminal prosecutor, admitted that before attending the workshop, she had not completely grasped how credit cards worked.

The New York Times

As an American ingénue gallivanting around a Europe whose ritualized manners she can't completely grasp, Beth is walking in the footsteps of Daisy Miller and Isabel Archer.

The New York Times - Books

Cook admits he doesn't completely grasp the physics, writing, "The primary levitating force was due to … a reaction between the air molecules in their newly excited state and the body of the machine itself".

Forbes

At age 12, he told the pastor of another Adventist church in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, that he hadn't completely grasped his first baptism and wanted to be baptized again.

The Washington Post

The applications are usually technically complex and allow for a tester to fall back onto a shallow dive into a feature, if they haven't completely grasped the concept.

The Guardian

She may not yet completely grasp pi.

Forbes

Not everyone will completely grasp the meaning of the sculptures of Richard Deacon but that's all right, the artist has said on the eve of a retrospective of his work at Tate Britain.

The Guardian - Arts

Like all categories, this one can't hope to completely grasp the ever-changing reality of the explosive new writing scene".

The Guardian

Typical causes include involvement in a disaster in which they witnessed death or were near death, an abusive childhood, major life stresses, time spent in a combat zone, involvement in an accident, etc.[2][3] Unless you were also present, you won't be able to completely grasp what they went through but it will help you to understand the depth of their pain.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not completely grasp", ensure that the context provides some indication of the degree of understanding that is present. This helps avoid ambiguity and provides a clearer picture of the level of comprehension.

Common error

Avoid using "not completely grasp" when there is absolutely no understanding present. Instead, use phrases like "completely misunderstand" or "have no idea" for situations where comprehension is entirely absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not completely grasp" functions as a qualifier, indicating a degree of understanding that is less than full or complete. It modifies the verb "grasp", showing a partial or incomplete comprehension of a concept or idea. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not completely grasp" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that signifies a partial or incomplete understanding. It is often used in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media, to indicate that someone understands some aspects of a topic but lacks full comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, while alternative phrases such as "partially understand" or "not fully comprehend" can be used for similar meanings. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context about the level of understanding to avoid ambiguity and to avoid overstating a complete lack of understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not fully comprehend

Emphasizes a lack of complete understanding, focusing on the inability to grasp the entirety of a concept.

not entirely understand

Similar to "not fully comprehend", but can also imply a question or disagreement with an idea.

lack full comprehension

Focuses on the absence of complete understanding.

not quite understand

Indicates a slight deficiency in understanding.

partially understand

Indicates some level of understanding, but not a complete or thorough one.

not have a firm grasp

Suggests an insecure or unstable understanding of something.

have a limited understanding

Highlights the restriction or boundary of one's comprehension.

struggle to comprehend

Implies a difficulty or effort in understanding.

fail to fully appreciate

Suggests an inability to recognize the full value or implications of something.

have a vague understanding

Indicates an unclear or imprecise comprehension.

FAQs

What does "not completely grasp" mean?

The phrase "not completely grasp" means to have a partial or incomplete understanding of something. It indicates that someone understands some aspects of a topic or concept, but not all of it.

What can I say instead of "not completely grasp"?

You can use alternatives like "partially understand", "not fully comprehend", or "lack full comprehension" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "not completely grasp" or "partially understand"?

Both "not completely grasp" and "partially understand" are valid, but "not completely grasp" might suggest a more active effort to understand, while "partially understand" simply states the level of comprehension.

How formal is the phrase "not completely grasp"?

The phrase "not completely grasp" is generally suitable for neutral to slightly informal contexts. For more formal situations, consider using phrases like "not fully comprehend" or "lack a complete understanding".