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⇱ misunderstand - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

misunderstand

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌmɪsʌndərˈstænd/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˌmɪsʌndɚˈstænd/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(mis′un dər stand′)


Inflections of 'misunderstand' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
misunderstands
v 3rd person singular
misunderstanding
v pres p
misunderstood
v past
misunderstood
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mis•un•der•stand /ˌmɪsʌndɚˈstænd/USA pronunciation   v. [not: be + ~-ing], -stood, -stand•ing. 
  1. to interpret incorrectly;
    attach a wrong meaning to: [~ + object]The radar operators misunderstood his orders.[no object]I think you misunderstood; repeat the instructions.
  2. to fail to understand the character, nature, etc., of (someone):[~ + object]He continually misunderstands his children.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
mis•un•der•stand  (mis′un dər stand′),USA pronunciation v.t., -stood, -stand•ing. 
  1. to take (words, statements, etc.) in a wrong sense;
    understand wrongly.
  2. to fail to understand or interpret rightly the words or behavior of.
  • Middle English misunderstanden. See mis-1, understand 1150–1200
mis′un•der•stand′er, n. 
    1. misconstrue, misapprehend, misinterpret.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
misunderstand /ˌmɪsʌndəˈstænd/ vb ( -stands, -standing, -stood)
  1. to fail to understand properly
'misunderstand' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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