Words / B2

kompr-i-HEND/ˌkɒmprɪˈhend/

To comprehend is to understand fully (slightly formal): fail to comprehend; comprehend what. Understand is everyday; comprehensive (already in the dictionary) means complete — a classic trap. Candidates who do not comprehend evaluate. Do not write “comprehend about”.

Meaning

To understand something fully (slightly formal).

Examples

• “Many candidates did not comprehend what the command word evaluate required.”
• “The scale of the deficit was hard to comprehend from one slide.”

Good to know

comprehend + noun/clause. Everyday: understand. Trap: comprehensive (complete). Not “comprehend about”. Formal reports and exam post-mortems.

Near in meaning

understand

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