understandable
gb/ˌʌndɚstˈændəbəl/ us/ˌʌndɚstˈændəbəl/
B1
English
~ 6600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
easy to understand or follow
Easy to understand; not difficult to follow or learn.
Usage pattern:
[something] is understandable
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "understandable" with the verb "understand" or the adjective "understanding". Use "understandable" to describe things that are easy to understand (e.g., "an understandable text"), and "understanding" to describe people who are kind and accept others (e.g., "an understanding teacher"). Another mistake is saying "I am understandable" when they mean "People can understand me"; it is more natural to say "My English is understandable" or "People can understand me."
Synonyms
clear (More common and general; can also describe things like weather or color, not just ideas or language.)
|
comprehensible (Slightly more formal and technical; often used in academic or official contexts.)
|
intelligible (More formal; often used for speech, writing, or sounds that can be understood.)
Antonyms
confusing (Suggests that something is hard to follow or causes uncertainty.)
|
incomprehensible (More formal; means something cannot be understood at all or only with great difficulty.)
Collocations
perfectly understandable
|easily understandable
|clear and understandable
|simple and understandable
|make [something] understandable
|in an understandable way
Themes
communication
|education
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The instructions are written in simple, understandable language.
- He gave a short and easily understandable explanation of the problem.
- We are working to make the report more understandable to non-experts.
- The teacher managed to turn a complex topic into something completely understandable.
- This chart is not very understandable without a legend.
Learner examples
- The story is short and understandable.
- Her English is very clear and understandable.
- The video makes the lesson understandable for children.
- He used examples to make his idea understandable.
- This book is understandable even for beginners.
adjective
B2
property
2
reasonable or easy to sympathize with
Normal or reasonable in a situation, so people can accept it or feel the same way.
Usage pattern:
[reaction/action] is understandable
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "I am understandable" when they mean "People can understand why I feel this way." In this emotional sense, it is more natural to say "My feelings are understandable" or "It is understandable that I feel this way." Another common error is using an infinitive instead of a clause, e.g., *"It is understandable to you are angry"; correct forms are "It is understandable that you are angry" or "Your anger is understandable."
Synonyms
reasonable (Stresses being fair and sensible; not always about emotions but often overlaps.)
|
natural (Emphasizes that a feeling or reaction is what most people would have in that situation.)
|
forgivable (Focuses more on the idea that a mistake or wrong action can be excused.)
Antonyms
unreasonable (Describes reactions or demands that are not fair or sensible in the situation.)
|
inexcusable (Suggests that a mistake or action cannot be justified or forgiven.)
Collocations
perfectly understandable
|entirely understandable
|understandable reaction
|understandable concern
|understandable mistake
|it is understandable that [clause]
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Your anger is completely understandable after what happened.
- It's understandable that she needed some time alone.
- His decision to quit was understandable, given the stress he was under.
- Their fear is understandable considering the recent events.
- It was an understandable mistake, so no one was angry with him.
Learner examples
- It is understandable that you are tired.
- Her fear of flying is understandable.
- His reaction was understandable in that situation.
- Your mistake is understandable, so do not worry.
- It is understandable that they are sad today.
Grammar
Dictionary form
understandable
IPA
GB/ˌʌndɚstˈændəbəl/
US/ˌʌndɚstˈændəbəl/
Syllables & stress
un - der - stand - able (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (der)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: understandable
Word family
Core family
Related words
misunderstand
verb B1
misunderstanding
noun
Advanced or less common
understandability
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.