Comprehend
Comprehend verb - To have a clear idea of.
Usage example: the age at which children can comprehend the difference between right and wrong
Recognize is a synonym for comprehend in perception topic. In some cases you can use "Recognize" instead a verb "Comprehend", when it comes to topics like action, understand, know, find out.
Recognize
Recognize verb - To have a clear idea of.
Usage example: finally recognized that we were hopelessly lost
Comprehend is a synonym for recognize in understand topic. You can use "Comprehend" instead a verb "Recognize", if it concerns topics such as perception, action, acknowledge, know.
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- sense and comprehend
- sense and recognize
- conceive and comprehend
- conceive and recognize
- appreciate and comprehend
- appreciate and recognize
- see and comprehend
- see and recognize
- perceive and comprehend
- perceive and recognize
- acknowledge and comprehend
- acknowledge and recognize
- accept and comprehend
- accept and recognize
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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Most of them — Emperor included — can't recognize good music, while the one person who can comprehend — Salieri — is working behind the scenes to sabotage Mozart's efforts.
Source: Theatre / Amadeus - They are also one of only a few species that have demonstrated the ability to recognize their own reflection in a mirror, something most housecats fail to comprehend.
Source: Amplified Animal Aptitude -
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Despite their Kick the Dog moments towards Scootaloo, especially when they say that she was better off dead, they seem unable to recognize their own hypocrisy, and how much they hurt Scootaloo.
Source: Webcomic / Motherly Scootaloo
Cite this Source
Recognize and Comprehend. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/comprehend/recognize
Comprehend & Recognize. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/comprehend/recognize>.
Recognize or Comprehend. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/comprehend/recognize.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "comprehend" and "recognize" have occurred on timeline