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be understanding
/biː ʌndərˈstændɪŋ/
show empathy and patience
She asked him to be understanding when she explained her situation.
She wanted him to listen with empathy and patience.
informal
to show empathy, patience, and tolerance toward others' feelings or situations
Be understanding when your friend is going through a tough time.
Show patience and empathy when someone is struggling.
He wasn't very understanding about her delay.
He didn't show much patience or empathy when she was late.
Often used to encourage compassionate listening and acceptance of others' perspectives.
Collocations
be understanding ofto accept or tolerate somethingbe more understandingto show greater empathy
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use in advice
This phrase is often used when giving advice to others about how to respond to difficult situations.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use this phrase when someone needs to show patience or empathy, not when giving instructions.
Word Origin
Derived from the verb 'understand' (Old English 'understandan') with the suffix '-ing' to form a continuous state.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in interpersonal communication to encourage compassion and active listening.
Word Breakdown
be
to exist in a state
verbunderstanding
the act of comprehending with empathy
gerundEnglish Dictionary