misunderstand

verb

mis·​un·​der·​stand (ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstand How to pronounce misunderstand (audio)
misunderstood (ˌ)mi-ˌsən-dər-ˈstu̇d How to pronounce misunderstand (audio) ; misunderstanding

transitive verb

1
: to fail to understand
2
: to interpret incorrectly

Examples of misunderstand in a Sentence

Don't misunderstand me—I'm not criticizing your decision. He feels that the critics have completely misunderstood his movies. She expressed herself in clear terms that no one could misunderstand.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Is Big, Beautiful And Sad Northern Lights Alert For 17 States After ‘Double Eruption’ On Sun Time Blocking as a Leadership Act Time blocking, often misunderstood as a simple productivity hack, is in fact a form of proactive alignment. Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Teachers commonly misunderstood his methods of self-regulation, such as stimming by flapping his hands, as a threat. Rachel Hale, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025 Yes, some viewers have misunderstood our message, but the reward that these women have been to me is far greater than any drama. Abby Howard, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025 Psychologists counseling a business owner may well miss the unique pressures that only business owners and business leaders experience and misunderstand the context of their world, leading to a poor diagnosis or treatment plan. Bill English, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misunderstand

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of misunderstand was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Misunderstand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misunderstand. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

misunderstand

verb
mis·​un·​der·​stand (ˌ)mis-ˌən-dər-ˈstand How to pronounce misunderstand (audio)
misunderstood -ˈstu̇d How to pronounce misunderstand (audio) ; misunderstanding
1
: to fail to understand
2
: to interpret incorrectly

More from Merriam-Webster on misunderstand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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