Meaning & use
misunderstand
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To understand something in the wrong way; to form an incorrect idea about what something means.
Grammar: Takes an object when you say what was misunderstood: misunderstand the question. Can also be used without an object: Please don't misunderstand.
Patterns
- misunderstand something
- misunderstand what someone means
- misunderstand each other
- be misunderstood
I think you misunderstood my question; I was asking about the price, not the date.
She misunderstood his silence and thought he was angry.
Many people misunderstand the rules of the game at first.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To interpret someone's words or actions incorrectly, often causing hurt or confusion.
Grammar: Often used in the passive: He felt misunderstood by his colleagues.
Patterns
- misunderstand someone
- misunderstand someone's intentions
- feel misunderstood
Please don't misunderstand me—I really appreciate your help.
He misunderstood her kindness as a sign of romantic interest.
Teenagers often feel misunderstood by their parents.
Word forms
| third person singular | misunderstands |
|---|---|
| past tense | misunderstood |
| past participle | misunderstood |
| -ing form | misunderstanding |
Common combinations
- misunderstand the question
- If you misunderstand the question, you will give the wrong answer.
- misunderstand someone's intentions
- He misunderstood her intentions and thought she was being rude.
- be widely misunderstood
- The new policy is widely misunderstood by the public.
- don't misunderstand me
- Don't misunderstand me—I agree with your main point.
- misunderstand what someone means
- I misunderstood what she meant by 'soon'.
Synonyms and how they differ
- misinterpret
- More formal; often used for texts, words, or actions, while misunderstand is more general and common in everyday speech.
- misread
- Often used for reading a situation or a person's feelings wrongly; it can also mean to read a text incorrectly.
- get the wrong idea
- Informal phrase; it means to form a mistaken belief, often about someone's intentions.
Opposites
Word family
- misunderstanding noun
- A failure to understand correctly, or a slight disagreement.
- misunderstood adjective
- Not properly understood or appreciated.
- understand verb
- To know the meaning of something or how it works.
Commonly confused: misunderstand or misunderestimate?
misunderstand vs misunderestimate
A rare, often humorous blend of 'misunderstand' and 'underestimate'; not standard English.
Practice
Choose the correct form: 'He ______ her question and gave a completely wrong answer.'
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'misunderstood' fits the past-time context. 'Misunderstand' is the base form, 'misunderstanding' is the -ing form, and 'misunderstands' is present tense for he/she/it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “misunderstand”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.