comprehending

verb

present participle of comprehend
1
as in understanding
to have a clear idea of the age at which children can comprehend the difference between right and wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knowing
to have a practical understanding of it took me a while to comprehend algebra

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in including
to have as part of a whole our notion of morality should comprehend much more than proper sexual behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of comprehending By utilizing three classes of agents, Microsoft is effectively comprehending the entire threat lifecycle. — Will Townsend, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Without comprehending what was happening, Kikuko looked up at the sagging skin of her father’s throat. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Hard sci-fi, meanwhile, leans into the fact that life evolving on other planets, under different conditions, and across different stretches of time will almost certainly take on forms so different from ours that comprehending them would be like imagining a new color. — Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026 As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026 And only by comprehending the Star Eaters will Ro also comprehend his part in their potential destruction. — Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026 And then just comprehending the infrastructure required, again, just for the eggs, let alone all the other things required. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025 Heavener said her young students have a hard time comprehending what is going on. — Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025 According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 230,000 Coloradans have difficulty comprehending and communicating in English. — Micki Olson, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comprehending
  1. understanding
  2. knowing
  3. including
  4. deciphering
  5. involving
  6. recognizing
  7. encompassing
  8. grasping
Verb
  • Following the analytics in this way isn’t all that different from what many media organizations do; understanding the audience is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of longevity in media.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The challenge is finding it and understanding why those earlier decisions were made.
    — Beth Worthy, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of understanding
Verb
  • Bob Howell, executive vice president and chief sales officer at Manhattan Associates, said Boscov’s has a proud history of knowing their customers and communities.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • There is no way of knowing whether other district court judges will rule, as Valenzuela did, on the question of funding connected to Title IX.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of knowing
Verb
  • In addition, key agricultural futures including rice, cotton, and corn have also rallied significantly since the beginning of the year, with most currently trading around their highest levels in three years.
    — , CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Shop more outlet deals below, including an elegant candleholder, a luxe ottoman, and slim patio sofa.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of including
Verb
  • And navigating a website might involve deciphering images or knowing what links to click.
    — Jennifer D. Kobrin, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The prevention of future pandemics relies on information from previous outbreaks, which is one reason why deciphering the origins of the COVID-19 began is important.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of deciphering
Verb
  • Her body was found Monday morning in the waters near Hagley Landing, a boat ramp leading to the Waccamaw River in the small town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, following an extensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Court records show DeFoor has a history of criminal cases involving findings of mental incompetency.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of involving
Verb
  • States are moving toward recognizing digital and other nontraditional wills.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hilton said in some cases, women may begin recognizing ADHD symptoms in themselves after becoming mothers and having their children evaluated for the condition.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of recognizing
Verb
  • Today, the 103-year-shopping district, encompassing 15 city blocks and styled in Spanish tiles, has improved — if only slightly — with 28% of its storefronts unoccupied.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Today’s tiki scene is vast, encompassing everything from historical venues like Silver Lake’s Tiki-Ti, modern takes on the form such as Tustin’s Stowaway or Highland Park’s Lucky Tiki, or twists such as the seafaring tone of Anaheim’s Strong Water.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of encompassing
Verb
  • Garcia lends the whole song theater-kid interpretation, essentially acting out the lyrics in pantomime, grasping out in front of her, clutching her face.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Remove the stems from the kale by grasping the leafy part and pulling off the stem.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of grasping

Browse Nearby Words

comprehendible
comprehending
comprehends
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Cite this Entry

“Comprehending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comprehending. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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