Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🧠 Smart or skilled 🧠 Practical sense 💡 To understand
to savvy

to savvy

1 7.2
To understand something in a casual way
  • verb
  • /ˈsævi/
  • Informal
translation icon : captar
  • Do you savvy how this software works, or do you need help?

Examples

  • Now, the native seems willing to talk, but, of course, we don't savvy the lingo.

    The Horizontal Lieutenant (1962)

  • I saw it as an opportunity to work with a film crew to become savvy around how to create television.

  • And I think America's getting savvy to that as well.

  • He didn't quite savvy what the teacher was explaining during the lesson.

  • After a few minutes, she began to savvy what was really going on in the meeting.

Synonyms

to understand
vsto savvy
∞ 1.0

To know the meaning of something

has same sense but is used in more informal contexts
to dig
vsto savvy
  • Slang
328 8.6

To understand or enjoy something

is an informal term focusing on practical grasp rather than casual liking
to grasp
vsto savvy
146 4.1

To understand something difficult clearly

is more informal and everyday, not only for hard subjects
to pick up on
vsto savvy
142 3.9

To notice something that is not obvious

focuses on general informal understanding rather than noticing hidden details
to comprehend
vsto savvy
137 2.7

To understand the meaning of something

is informal rather than formal or academic in usage
to get the picture
vsto savvy
  • Informal
37 3.2

To understand what someone is saying or what is happening

is informal too but stresses general grasp rather than seeing full context
to apprehend
vsto savvy
  • Formal
9 4.3

To understand the meaning of something

leans informal and conversational rather than formal perception
to grok
vsto savvy
  • Jargon
3 9.9

To understand something deeply and naturally

is informal but implies a shallower, practical grasp rather than deep intuition

Antonyms

to misunderstand
53 1.8

To think something is true when it is not

Compounds

savvy politicker
  • US
8.6

A person who uses skill and judgment to get support and power

How Well

to grasp
146 4.1
to savvy
  • Informal
1 7.2
to get
∞ 1.4
to follow
560 1.4
to guess
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

savvy infinitive
savvied past
savvied past participle
savvying present participle
savvies third person singular

Etymology

Savvy as a verb comes from the same Spanish root saber 'to know' and was used in questions like 'Do you savvy?' meaning 'Do you understand?'. So to savvy something is simply to 'get' or understand it.