explain
to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible: to explain an obscure point.
to make known in detail: to explain how to do something.
to assign a meaning to; interpret: How can you explain such a silly remark?
to make clear the cause or reason of; account for: I cannot explain his strange behavior.
to give an explanation.
explain away,
to diminish or nullify the significance of by explanation: He couldn't explain away his absence from home at the time the robbery was committed.
to dispel (doubts, difficulties, etc.) by explanation: She explained away the child's fears.
Origin of explain
1Other words for explain
Opposites for explain
Other words from explain
- ex·plain·a·ble, adjective
- ex·plain·er, ex·pla·na·tor [ek-spluh-ney-ter], /ˈɛk spləˌneɪ tər/, noun
- mis·ex·plained, adjective
- non·ex·plain·a·ble, adjective
- o·ver·ex·plain, verb
- pre·ex·plain, verb
- re·ex·plain, verb (used with object)
- un·ex·plain·a·ble, adjective
- un·ex·plain·a·bly, adverb
- un·ex·plained, adjective
- un·ex·plain·ing, adjective
- well-ex·plained, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use explain in a sentence
This is why it’s so important for fitness creators on TikTok to not only to show, but also explain how to do a particular movement.
Use TikTok to build the perfect workout | Sandra Gutierrez G. | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThat response helps explain a lot about the presidential race more broadly.
In 160 words, Trump reveals how little he cares about the pandemic | Philip Bump | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostThat partly explains all the team changes he’s had over the years.
Bam Adebayo Is Making Plays, Denver Is Making Us Look Bad, And The Lakers May Need To Make Some Adjustments | Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com) | September 17, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightThe agency noted that’s the maximum allowed under state law but did not explain why it had earlier proposed a larger amount.
This Billionaire Governor’s Coal Company Might Get a Big Break From His Own Regulators | by Ken Ward Jr. | September 17, 2020 | ProPublicaNormally, when rain falls the droplets are intercepted by leaves, branches, or grasses before hitting the ground, explains Ann Youberg, a senior research scientist with the Arizona Geological Survey.
California wildfires may give way to massive mudslides | Ula Chrobak | September 17, 2020 | Popular-Science
To his critics, he explained—sometimes at painful length—his reasoning against it.
Conway goes on to list a series of other coincidences that he suggests are not simply explained.
Harry’s Daddy, and Diana’s ‘Murder’: Royal Rumors In a New Play | Tom Sykes | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“We look for the qualities that are evocative of V.S.O.P Privilege,” explained Hennessy Senior Vice President Rodney Williams.
He was courteous, explained the legitimate reason we were briefly pulled over, and then let us continue on our way.
In a hot-button cover story interview with Vanity Fair, Lawrence explained it best.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014 | Kevin Fallon | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhile they were doing this, he assembled the officers around him, and the meaning of our night march was explained to us.
"That is why I told you the other meeting seemed a long time ago," explained the girl.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. WilliamsonWith some difficulty Jos explained his mother's disclaimer of the title of Senora, and the choice of names she offered to Ramona.
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson"This toadstool is growing bigger all the time," Grandfather Mole explained.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileyThey represented, as has been explained, the operation of the system of natural liberty by which every man got what he is worth.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
British Dictionary definitions for explain
/ (ɪkˈspleɪn) /
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to make (something) comprehensible, esp by giving a clear and detailed account of the relevant structure, operation, surrounding circumstances, etc
(tr) to justify or attempt to justify (oneself) by giving reasons for one's actions or words
Origin of explain
1Derived forms of explain
- explainable, adjective
- explainer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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