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understanding

understanding

50 3.6
Showing sympathy and care for other people's feelings
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/
translation icon : comprensivo
  • Mama, thanks for being so understanding about our wedding.
  • supportive and understanding
  • more understanding
  • very understanding

I yes, I become very calm, very understanding, very sympathetic.

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Examples

Synonyms

thoughtful
vsunderstanding
165 2.1

Caring about other people's needs and feelings

focuses more on sympathy and insight rather than just consideration
empathetic
vsunderstanding
30 4.4

To understand and share other people's feelings

has identical meaning but is an alternative form of the same adjective
empathic
vsunderstanding
15 4.6

To understand and share other people's feelings

has identical meaning but differs mainly by spelling
kindhearted
vsunderstanding
5 2.5

A person who is kind and caring

adds active insight and tolerance beyond simple kindness

Compounds

A strong and complete knowledge of a subject or idea

A situation where two or more people share the same feelings and ideas

Knowledge about past events and why they happened

A situation where people live together without fighting and understand each other

Knowledge and respect for cultural differences that helps people live or work together

A way of thinking that easily changes to fit new situations

Knowing that both people freely agree to the same sexual activity

Knowledge about religious beliefs and what they mean

How Empathetic

compassionate
151 3.7
understanding
50 3.6
sympathetic
152 3.4
tolerant
72 3.2

Surface Forms

understanding positive

Morphology

understanding = understand (semi-transparent) = understand + ing

Adjectival use of the present participle from 'understand'; the empathetic sense is related to comprehension but involves an evaluative/emotional extension.

Etymology

The word understanding comes from old English parts under- and stand, suggesting the idea of 'standing with' someone. That's why an 'understanding' person is kind and able to see how others feel.