totally understandable

USAGE SUMMARY

'totally understandable' is correct and is often used in written English.
It expresses complete understanding of something and is usually used to respond to something. For example: "I can't make it to work tomorrow." "Totally understandable - take the time you need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Totally understandable.

The New York Times

But that's totally understandable.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It's totally understandable.

The New Yorker

That response is totally understandable.

The Washington Post

"It's totally understandable," she said.

The New York Times

It's a totally understandable decision from him".

Independent

But totally understandable on the other hand.

The Guardian - Film

If the game doesn't continue then it's totally understandable.

The New York Times

The draw was totally understandable in the circumstances".

The Guardian - Sport

"Budget cuts are totally understandable, especially today," she said.

The New York Times

This is totally understandable and should be respected.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "totally understandable" to express empathy and validate someone's feelings or perspective in conversations or written communication.

Common error

Avoid using "totally understandable" repeatedly in close succession as it can sound insincere or monotonous. Vary your responses with other expressions of understanding or empathy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally understandable" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies an implied situation or action. It serves to express agreement, comprehension, and validation of someone's feelings or perspective. As per Ludwig AI, it is often used to respond to something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "totally understandable" is a common and versatile expression used to convey empathy, agreement, and comprehension. It functions as an adjective phrase, modifying an implied situation or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in response to something, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally acceptable, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives like "completely comprehensible" or "perfectly reasonable" in highly professional or academic settings. Overusing the phrase can make it sound insincere, so varying your responses with other expressions of understanding is key. "Totally understandable" is a valuable tool for building rapport and fostering a sense of connection in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely comprehensible

Replaces "totally" with "completely" and "understandable" with "comprehensible", emphasizing ease of understanding.

perfectly reasonable

Focuses on the logical aspect, suggesting the action or feeling is justified and makes sense.

entirely logical

Emphasizes the rational basis for something being understandable.

absolutely justifiable

Highlights the defensibility or excusability of the situation or action.

fully appreciated

Shifts the focus to active understanding and valuing of the situation.

easily grasped

Indicates that the concept or situation is simple to understand.

readily accepted

Emphasizes the ease with which something is agreed upon or taken in.

entirely predictable

Suggests that the outcome or action was expected and therefore easy to understand.

easily forgiven

Highlights the ease with which a mistake or transgression is excused.

completely acceptable

Focuses on the permissibility of the situation.

FAQs

What does "totally understandable" mean?

The phrase "totally understandable" expresses complete comprehension, agreement, and empathy towards a situation, action, or feeling. It indicates that something is easily understood and acceptable given the circumstances.

How can I use "totally understandable" in a sentence?

You can use "totally understandable" as a response to someone sharing their feelings or explaining a situation. For example, if someone says, "I couldn't finish the project on time because of a family emergency", you could reply, "Totally understandable. Family comes first."

What are some alternatives to saying "totally understandable"?

You can use alternatives like "perfectly reasonable", "completely comprehensible", or "absolutely justifiable" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "totally understandable" in formal communication?

While "totally understandable" is generally acceptable, in formal contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like "completely comprehensible" or "perfectly reasonable" to maintain a professional tone.