Comprehension
ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnʃən
Definitions
The ability to understand something fully; the action or process of understanding.
ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnʃən
The action or capability of understanding something.
The teacher assessed the students' reading comprehension.
💡 Simply: Comprehension is like when you read a story and *get* what it's about. If you have good comprehension, you understand the characters, the plot, and the message. It’s like figuring out the puzzle of the story.
👶 For kids: When you understand something, like a story or what someone is saying, that's comprehension!
More Examples
His comprehension of the complexities of the issue was impressive.
Improving your listening comprehension can enhance communication skills.
The software aims to improve natural language comprehension.
How It's Used
"Reading comprehension is a key skill taught in elementary school."
"The study explored the brain's role in language comprehension."
"His poor comprehension of the instructions led to errors."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin *comprehendere* ('to grasp, seize'), from *com-* ('with, together') + *prehendere* ('to grasp'). The word evolved to describe the act of understanding or grasping the meaning of something.
The word 'comprehension' has been used since the 15th century, evolving from the broader meaning of 'grasping' to a specific focus on intellectual understanding.
Memory tip
Think of 'comprehend' and its root word 'prehend', meaning 'to grasp'. Comprehension is grasping the *meaning*.
Word Origin
"To grasp, seize (physically or intellectually)"