Collocations for "understanding"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "understanding" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
understand
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- understand your [feelings, wishes, concern, reluctance]
- understand your [point, question, frustration]
- understand the [issue, problem, material]
- understand the [directions, instructions, contract, agreement]
- understand the [law, rules, regulations]
- let me see if I understand this [right, correctly]
- understand the [importance of, need for]
- understand the [idea, concept]
- understand what you're saying
- understand what's [happening, going on] in the [book, movie]
- understand how it works
- understand that you want to [go, leave, have, make, do]
- understand (that) you're upset
- will understand if you [don't, can't]
- will never understand why
- understand and [agree, appreciate, accept]
- understand [all, only] too well
- [truly, completely, certainly] understand
- [do not, don't] understand the [question, reasons]
- did not understand
- just do not understand [why, how]
- just [can't, cannot] understand (it)
- I (have) never understood [why, how]
- [couldn't, failed to, struggled to] understand
- [failed, tried] to make her understand
- [my parents, other people] (just) don't understand me
- what you have to understand is (that)
- please try to understand
- hope you understand
- is [hard, difficult, impossible, easy] to understand
- not [hard] to understand
'understanding' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Dutch
- Gospel
- acceptance
- advance
- advanced
- advancement
- appreciation
- awareness
- basic
- better
- beyond
- bridge
- build
- building
- catalyst
- church
- clear
- collected
- common
- compassionate
- convey
- crucial
- deep
- deepen
- develop
- difficulty
- enhance
- enrich
- exceed
- expand
- extend
- facilitate
- fake
- feminine
- firm
- flawed
- friendship
- fundamental
- further
- gain
- grudge
- holistic
- hunt
- impair
- increase
- insight
- insightful
- jolt
- joy
- keen