noun
1 knowledge of a subject, of how sth works, etc.
ADJECTIVE
▪ complete , comprehensive , full
▪
He showed a full ~ of the sequence of events.
▪ growing
▪ accurate , clear , deep , detailed , fundamental , in-depth , intimate , keen , profound , proper , real , solid , sophisticated , thorough , true
▪
You need to read more widely to gain a proper ~ of the issue.
▪ adequate , basic , broad , general , sufficient
▪ limited , rudimentary , superficial
▪
She has only a limited ~ of what the job involves.
▪ incomplete , poor
▪
He had a poor ~ of international law.
▪ better , deeper , greater , improved , increased , richer
▪
an improved ~ of the mechanisms involved
▪ conceptual , critical , rational , theoretical
▪ historical , musical , scientific , etc.
▪ contemporary , modern
▪ conventional , traditional
▪ instinctive , intuitive
▪ collective , common
▪
Some religions have a common ~ of the nature of a divine being.
▪ popular , public
▪
with a view to increasing public ~ of the functions and institutions of government
… OF UNDERSTANDING
▪ degree , level
▪
It allowed him to deepen his degree of ~ even further.
▪
The students seem to have a reasonable level of ~ of how genes work.
VERB + UNDERSTANDING
▪ have , possess
▪ demonstrate , show
▪ reflect
▪
This change of policy reflects a growing ~ of the extent of the problem.
▪ lack
▪ achieve , acquire , arrive at , gain , obtain
▪ create , provide
▪
This creates a better ~ of organic farming.
▪ give sb
▪ facilitate
▪ inform , shape
▪
All of this research informs our ~ of how disease processes work.
▪ alter , change
▪ advance , broaden , deepen , develop , enhance , enrich , expand , extend , further , improve , increase , refine
▪
a book that will deepen your ~ of global warming
▪ seek
▪
Scientists are seeking a better ~ of the process.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ about
▪ ~ of
▪
The book aims to give children a balanced ~ of food and the environment.
PHRASES
▪ a lack of ~
2 intelligence
ADJECTIVE
▪ human
VERB + UNDERSTANDING
▪ pass
▪
a level of cruelty that passes human ~
PREPOSITION
▪ beyond (your) ~
▪
How children change so quickly is beyond my ~.
▪
Such attitudes are beyond ~.
3 ability to feel sympathy and trust
ADJECTIVE
▪ deeper , great
▪ common , mutual , shared
▪ sympathetic
▪
She gave me a look filled with sympathetic ~.
▪ international
▪ cross-cultural ( esp. AmE ), cultural
VERB + UNDERSTANDING
▪ show
▪
He didn't show much ~ towards/toward her when she lost her job.
▪ bring , bring about ( esp. BrE ), develop , lead to
▪
Greater contact between the two groups should lead to a better mutual ~.
▪ have
▪ gain , grow in
▪
After spending a month living together, they have gained a better ~ of each other.
▪ build
▪
Our goal was to build shared ~ between the two communities.
▪ foster , promote
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ among
▪
a force for ~ among the races
▪ ~ between
▪
The association fosters a deeper ~ between prisons and the public.
▪ ~ for
▪
She suddenly had a new ~ for her mother.
4 informal agreement
ADJECTIVE
▪ written
▪ verbal
▪ implicit , tacit , unspoken
▪
There is an unspoken ~ that Hugh will be in charge while Jane is away.
VERB + UNDERSTANDING
▪ have
▪ come to , reach
▪
They came to an ~ on when final payment was to be made.
PREPOSITION
▪ ~ between
▪
an ~ between the companies to fight against the proposed tax reform
▪ ~ on
▪
a tacit ~ on the need for a pay rise
▪ ~ with
▪
I have a clear ~ with any lawyer I hire.
▪ on the ~
▪
I thought you gave me the book on the ~ that I could keep it.