Comprehensible
/ˌkɑːmprɪˈhɛnsəbl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Comprehensible describes information, speech, or writing that is easy to understand. When something is comprehensible, a person can grasp its meaning without much difficulty. It is often used to talk about language, explanations, or ideas that are clear and not confusing.
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⚡ See It in Action
Easy to understand or clear
- •The teacher’s explanation was very comprehensible, so all students passed the test.
- •His speech was slow and comprehensible, even for those who don’t speak English well.
- •The instructions are written in a comprehensible way, so anyone can follow them.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "comprehensible" like "understandable" (A2 word), but a bit more formal and used for clear explanations or ideas.
- ✓Picture a teacher explaining a new topic slowly and clearly, so all students can follow without confusion.
- ✓It's the feeling when you read a book and everything makes sense, so you don’t have to guess or ask many questions.
- ✓Sounds like "come-pre-HEN-si-ble" → imagine a hen (chicken) coming closer because it understands the call clearly.
- ✓Remember a time when someone explained something complicated in simple words—that is making it comprehensible.
- ✓NOT like "confusing" (hard to understand), "comprehensible" means easy to understand.
- ✓NOT like "complex" (very difficult), "comprehensible" means simple enough to grasp.
- ✓NOT like "silent" or "unclear"—comprehensible means the message is clear and reachable.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Clear: easy to see or understand (Use when emphasizing no confusion or difficulty)
- •Intelligible: able to be understood (Use in formal or technical contexts)
- •Simple: not difficult to understand (Use when focusing on ease and lack of complexity)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: com- (together) + prehend (from Latin "prehendere" meaning to grasp or take) + -ible (able to be)
- •Etymology: From Latin "comprehensibilis," meaning "able to be grasped or understood"
- •Historical development: Used since the 16th century to describe things that can be mentally grasped or understood
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in education, communication, and descriptions of language or ideas that are easy to understand
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What makes an explanation more comprehensible to different kinds of people?
•Can something be comprehensible but still hard to remember? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The teacher spoke slowly and clearly to make the lesson comprehensible ___ all students, even beginners.
2.When a text is not comprehensible, readers often feel ___ and stop reading.
3.Unlike confusing instructions, comprehensible directions help people ___ the task quickly.
4.A comprehensible explanation usually avoids ___ words or complicated sentences.
5.The speaker’s accent was strong, but the message was still comprehensible ___ careful listening.
6.To make your writing comprehensible, you should ___ your ideas in simple language.
7.If something is comprehensible, it means you can ___ the meaning without extra help.