Verstehen

noun

Ver·​ste·​hen
ferˈshtāən,
fər-
plural -s
: an intuitive doctrine or method of interpreting human culture especially in its subjective motivational and valuational aspects through the understanding of symbolic relationships

Word History

Etymology

German, from verstehen to understand, from Middle High German versten, verstan

The Ultimate Dicitonary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near Verstehen

Cite this Entry

“Verstehen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Verstehen. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!