to comprehend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to comprehend" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to discuss understanding or grasping the concept of something. Example sentence: After spending hours reading the book, he was finally able to comprehend its complex themes.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was hard to comprehend.

The New Yorker

"It's easy to comprehend".

The New York Times

Impossible to comprehend".

The Guardian

The switch is easy enough to comprehend.

The New Yorker

Somehow, that fact was difficult to comprehend.

The New Yorker

Outsiders found it hard to comprehend.

The New Yorker

"They were too young to comprehend.

The New York Times

Inability to comprehend driving laws?

The New York Times - Magazine

It's hard even for scientists to comprehend".

The New York Times - Science

Now, they can begin to comprehend it.

The New York Times - Tech

Figures like that are hard to comprehend.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to comprehend" when you want to emphasize a thorough and complete understanding of a complex topic or idea. For instance, "It took me several readings to fully comprehend the theory."

Common error

Avoid using "to comprehend" in simple everyday situations where "to understand" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to comprehend" functions as an infinitive verb phrase, typically used as part of a larger clause. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. It often serves as the complement of auxiliary verbs or adjectives describing the difficulty or ease of understanding something, as illustrated in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to comprehend" is a grammatically sound and frequently used infinitive verb phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It signifies a thorough understanding of complex subjects and finds its place in various contexts, especially in news and media, scientific discourse, and business settings. While versatile, it leans towards a more formal tone compared to simpler alternatives like "to understand". Use "to comprehend" to convey a complete grasp of challenging concepts, but avoid overusing it in everyday conversations to maintain clarity and avoid sounding pretentious. Remember that it is preferable to "to understand" in simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to understand

A more general and widely applicable synonym, lacking the potential emphasis on thoroughness.

to grasp

Implies seizing the idea quickly, a more active form of understanding.

to fathom

Suggests exploring something deeply to understand it, more emphatic than "understand".

to apprehend

A more formal synonym, emphasizing understanding and awareness.

to perceive

Focuses on becoming aware through the senses or intellect, a slightly broader scope.

to discern

Emphasizes careful and insightful understanding, often involving distinguishing between things.

to assimilate

Highlights the process of integrating new information into existing knowledge.

to make sense of

A more colloquial alternative, suitable for informal contexts.

to figure out

Focuses on solving or discovering something, less about general understanding.

to get the picture

An idiomatic expression for understanding the general idea, less detailed.

FAQs

How can I use "to comprehend" in a sentence?

You can use "to comprehend" to describe understanding something complex or abstract, for example: "It's often difficult "to comprehend" the scale of the universe".

What are some alternatives to "to comprehend"?

Some alternatives to "to comprehend" include "to understand", "to grasp", and "to fathom". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it more appropriate to use "to comprehend" rather than "to understand"?

"To comprehend" implies a deeper and more thorough level of understanding than "to understand". Use "to comprehend" when the subject matter is complex or requires significant mental effort to grasp. You can use the phrase "to understand" in simpler contexts.

What is the difference between "to comprehend" and "to memorize"?

"To comprehend" means to understand something thoroughly, while "to memorize" means to learn something by heart without necessarily understanding it. One can "to memorize" without "to comprehend", but it's better to do both.