understandable

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌəndɝˈstændəbəl/ See IPA manual

adj Freq #8523

Meanings

1

adj
Easy to understand; clear.

She explained the rules in simple, understandable language.
2

adj
Reasonable and easy to excuse given the situation.

His anger was understandable after such an insult.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · easy to understand; clear. comprehensible apprehensible

2 adj · reasonable and easy to... acceptable excusable

Opposites

incomprehensible inexcusable unacceptable unfathomable

Word family

Derived forms understandablenessunderstandably

Related forms understandability

Etymology

From Middle English understondable, equivalent to understand + -able.

understondable Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

# understandable

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˌəndɝˈstændəbəl
**Frequency rank:** 8523

## Meanings
1. Easy to understand; clear.
2. Reasonable and easy to excuse given the situation.

## Examples
- She explained the rules in simple, understandable language.
- His anger was understandable after such an insult.

## Antonyms
- incomprehensible
- inexcusable
- unacceptable
- unfathomable

## Derived Forms
- understandableness
- understandably

## Related Forms
- understandability

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: understondable

## Etymology
From Middle English understondable, equivalent to understand + -able.

## AI Etymology
Understandable is from Middle English understondable, equivalent to understand + -able. The historical line also includes Middle English understondable. The surface analysis is Middle English understondable, equivalent to understand + -able. In present-day use, it can mean easy to understand; clear, or reasonable and easy to excuse given the situation. Derived formations include understandableness, understandably.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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