[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/misunderstand/)

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# misunderstand

verb (misunderstand, misunderstands, misunderstood, misunderstanding)

«misunderstand» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To misunderstand is to understand something wrongly, to get the wrong meaning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#m1)
2. To misunderstand a person is to get the wrong idea about what they mean or what they are like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English and maths, pupils can misunderstand a question, so they read it twice. In friendships, misunderstanding causes arguments; talking calmly helps. Phrases: "Don't misunderstand me", "I think you misunderstood".

### Examples

- I misunderstand the question if I read it too fast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x1)
- Don't misunderstand me, I like your idea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x2)
- She misunderstood and went to the wrong room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x3)
- Many people misunderstand how bees make honey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x4)
- I'm sorry, I misunderstood what you said. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x5)
- If you misunderstand the instructions, ask the teacher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x6)
- “Ah!” cried the false princess, “why do you misunderstand my tears? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/#x7)

### Note

Irregular: misunderstand, misunderstood, misunderstood (like understand). Noun: misunderstanding. The prefix "mis-" means wrongly.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «misunderstand» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/misunderstand/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«misunderstand» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/misunderstand.html) on Mova free.