understood

/,ʌndə'stænd/

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The word "understood" is the past tense of the verb "understand." It can also be used as an adjective. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand it better:

Basic Meaning:

• Understood (verb): To grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something. When you say you "understood" something, it means you comprehended it or made sense of it.
• Understood (adjective): This means that something is accepted or agreed upon without needing to be said out loud.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "understood" when you want to express that you have comprehended information or when referring to agreements or conditions that are accepted by people without needing to discuss them explicitly.

Examples:

1. Verb: "I understood the lesson after the teacher explained it."
2. Adjective: "It was an understood rule that everyone should arrive on time."

Advanced Usage:

• As an adjective, "understood" can indicate a shared knowledge or agreement among people, often in a context where it is not formally stated. For example: "The conditions for the project were understood by all team members."

Word Variants:

• Understand (verb): The base form.
• Understanding (noun/adjective): Refers to the ability to comprehend (noun) or describes someone who is sympathetic (adjective).

Different Meanings:

• Understood as a concept: Sometimes used to indicate that something is clear without needing explanation, as in "The understood terms of our agreement were never questioned."

Synonyms:

• Comprehended
• Grasped
• Acknowledged
• Recognized

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Come to an understanding": To reach an agreement or mutual comprehension.
• "Take for granted": To assume that something is understood without needing to express it explicitly.

Example in Context:

• In a business meeting, if the team leader says, "The deadline for this project is next Friday, and that's understood by everyone," it means that everyone is aware of the deadline and agrees to it without needing to discuss it further.

Academic

Adjective

1. implied by or inferred from actions or statements
   • gave silent consent
   • a tacit agreement
   • the understood provisos of a custody agreement
2. fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
   • the understood conditions of troop withdrawal were clear

Synonyms

• silent
• tacit