The difference between Believe and Understand

When used as verbs, believe means to accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing), whereas understand means to be aware of the meaning of.


check bellow for the other definitions of Believe and Understand

  1. Believe as a verb (transitive):

    To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing)

    Examples:

    "If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change."

    "I believe there are faeries."

  2. Believe as a verb (transitive):

    To accept that someone is telling the truth.

    Examples:

    "Why did I ever believe you?"

  3. Believe as a verb (intransitive):

    To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.

    Examples:

    "After that night in the church, I believed."

  4. Believe as a verb:

    To consider likely

    Examples:

    "I believe it might rain tomorrow. (Here, the speaker merely accepts the accuracy of the conditional.)"

  1. Understand as a verb (transitive):

    To be aware of the meaning of.

    Examples:

    "I understand German."

    "I received your note, but I did not understand it."

  2. Understand as a verb:

    To believe, based on information.

    Examples:

    "I understand that you have information for me."

  3. Understand as a verb:

    To impute meaning, character etc. that is not explicitly stated.

    Examples:

    "But we cannot disappoint Grandma and Grandpa Smith, and that is what family is all about! Do you understand?!"

    "In this sense, the word is usually used in the past participle:"

  4. Understand as a verb (obsolete, rare, humorous):

    To stand under; to support.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Shakespeare"

  5. Understand as a verb (circus, acrobatics):

    One who supports others in such performances as the human pyramid.