Synonyms

explain

American

[ik-spleyn] / ɪkˈspleɪn /

verb (used with object)

to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible.

to explain an obscure point.

Synonyms:

explicate

Antonyms:

confuse
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.

Synonyms:

justify

verb (used without object)

to give an explanation.

verb phrase

explain away
1. 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.
2. to dispel (doubts, difficulties, etc.) by explanation.
  
  She explained away the child's fears.

explain British

/ ɪkˈspleɪn /

verb

(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

"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

Usage

What are other ways to say explain?

To explain something is to make it plain or clear, or to render it understandable or intelligible. How does explain compare to synonyms elucidate, expound, and interpret? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of explain

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English explanen, from Latin explānāre “to smooth out, make intelligible, spread out on flat surface”; see origin at ex- ¹, plane ¹

Explanation

To explain something is to define it, show how it works, or just tell what it is. Explaining helps people understand. If you know football really well, then you could probably explain it to a non-fan. Explaining makes things clearer. A lot of teaching is explaining — telling how something works. Also, if you do something wrong, people will ask you to explain your actions. Explaining can help someone "get it" — whatever "it" is.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing explain

PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)

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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

explain explains explained explaining

They explain how this has worked in the past and how it could look in the modern day, incorporating constitutional meaning within your community, at your day job, and in your personal life.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026

“People are investing in you, depending and relying on your leadership, and if your leadership is going to be compromised in some way, you need to explain it.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

These ancient objects could act as "cosmic fossils" and may even help explain dark matter, the invisible material that plays a major role in shaping galaxies across the Universe.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

“Bring me an idea and I’ll explain why it can’t, shouldn’t, and won’t happen,” the site said, followed by a box encouraging users to type in a query.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

“And that’s good. I didn’t want to have to try to explain one of the greatest things in the world. Shall we?”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

He explains how he believes Alcaraz’s tragic death likely came to be and how officers have become desensitized to issues afflicting America’s prisons.

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026

Instead, locals sometimes offer fresh animal sacrifices at the shrine which attract the birds, he explains.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Robinson explains what Ron’s feeling in that moment in a way that perfectly encapsulates what it’s like watching “The Chair Company”: “He’s happy, scared and exhilarated.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Sifting back through the data to 2021, Price found changes in net positioning explains 85% of copper’s price move, so it can be observed that speculative flows have become the dominant price catalyst.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Wes explains, “We got him a collection of puzzles of Greek mythology. He’s really into that stuff. What’s the name of this puzzle?” he asks Paul.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Lower gas prices largely explained the tame readings on wholesale prices in the past two months, but the cost of other key commodities have also slackened.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

She added that it was "regrettable" the UK government had not explained its decision to Ming Yang.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

"If congenital transmission can occur in non-venereal treponematoses, then we need to rethink how we interpret skeletal evidence in the past," Dr. Vlok explained.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

This explained the object's colour, but not how it could be pumping out so much energy.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

“I want to make sure we aren’t being followed,” their guardian explained.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

As a whole, Sfeir said Orange County has shown strong job growth in the last few years, explaining its representation on the list of income risers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The predominant theme explaining copper’s popularity is its new end-uses in the build-out of data centers as well as for electrification and decarbonization.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

Current models have difficulty explaining how this diffusion can happen so rapidly.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

"Even getting a birth notification from the hospital requires information that doesn't exist," says Amira, explaining that she is unable to provide any details about the child's father.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Mr. Hodge began explaining the point of the hike, something about fitting into nature, finding one’s identity through connecting with one’s environment.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023