Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

comprehend

/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.70 in modern English

Syllables
com-pre-hend
IPA
/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnd/
20
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To understand or grasp fully and thoroughly; to plumb.

Transitive verb

verb

To include, comprise; to contain.

Archaic

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English comprehenden, from Latin comprehendere (“to grasp”), from the prefix com- + prehendere (“to seize”). Doublet of comprend.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *gʰed-, comprehenden, comprehendere

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnd/
  • British English: /kɒmpɹɪˈhɛnd/

Usage

Inflected Forms

comprehends (present, singular) comprehending (participle, present) comprehended (participle, past) comprehended (past)

Derived Forms

comprehender comprehendible miscomprehend precomprehend

Frequently Paired Words

comprehensibility comprehensible comprehension comprehensive comprehensiveness comprise

Synonyms

see grok get the picture savvy dig grasp compass apprehend

Rhymes With

end high-end friend send dead-end spend recommend tend attend trend defend extend

Questions

How do you pronounce comprehend?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnd/.
What does comprehend mean?
To understand or grasp fully and thoroughly; to plumb.
Where does comprehend come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce comprehend

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “comprehend”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “comprehend”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “comprehend” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.