expound
Americanverb (used with object)
-
expounds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
expounded,
past participle, past
-
expounding
present participle
-
to set forth or state in detail.
to expound theories.
-
to explain; interpret.
verb (used without object)
-
expounds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
expounded,
past participle, past
-
expounding
present participle
verb
Usage
What are other ways to say expound? To expound something is to set it forth or state it in detail. How does expound differ from elucidate, explain, and interpret? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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expoundsimple
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expoundssimple
-
have expoundedperfect
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has expoundedperfect
-
am expoundingprogressive
-
are expoundingprogressive
-
is expoundingprogressive
-
have been expoundingperfect progressive
-
has been expoundingperfect progressive
Past
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expoundedsimple
-
had expoundedperfect
-
was expoundingprogressive
-
were expoundingprogressive
-
had been expoundingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of expound
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English expounen, expounden, from Old French espondre, from Latin expōnere “to put out, set forth, explain,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + pōnere “to put”
Explanation
If your grandmother's handwritten pie recipe calls for "some sugar," "plenty of butter," and "sliced apples," you might ask her to expound by adding measurements of how much of each to use. When you expound, you explain or provide details. Expound came into English from a 14th-century French word espondre meaning "to elaborate" or "put forth." Often when you expound something you are clarifying or giving the particulars. A more formal way to expound is to offer exposition, often going line by line to explain precise meanings in a text or legal document.
Vocabulary lists containing expound
To Kill a Mockingbird
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Animal Farm
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 1–6
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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:
Executives have long used the corporate blog "to expound on ideas in a way where they're sort of this businessman-philosopher, in a sense".
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
It is common for justices to spar in their written opinions, and they sometimes expound on their legal disagreements in speeches or interviews.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
“The Rip” is consumed by the need to expound and interpret its own narrative at every turn.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2026
The company is set to expound on the results at Qubits 2026, a two-day conference at the end of January.
From Barron's ● Jan. 6, 2026
Anya took a deep breath, waiting for him to expound.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Cabello expounds for hours at a time, mixing political commentary with dark humor as a small audience claps and laughs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026
Gersten beautifully expounds on the complicated dynamics of young motherhood and how it felt for Shelly to be a working Vegas showgirl while trying to care for her daughter.
From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2025
“Yeah I get nerdy excited about it,” says Clarke as she expounds on the magic that happens both on and behind the stage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2023
Lopez Obrador, who expounds on the virtues of a non-interventionist foreign policy, said his plan involves the creation of a "mediation committee" that includes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.N.
From Reuters ● Sep. 12, 2022
He never expounds on education theory or education reform.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
In those meetings, he expounded on his pyramid of success, from team-building lessons to attention to detail.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026
The question of whether Native Americans were subject to United States governance was further expounded upon in 1886, with the Supreme Court ruling in United States v.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2025
She has not expounded on the comment, but has appeared to suggest that fracking can continue because other efforts can help clean up or preserve the environment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2024
In interviews, executives expounded, usually with significant enthusiasm, on the benefits and drawbacks of the technology.
From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2024
He expounded his ideas about medicine, human nature, politics, and business.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
Donny Hathaway had already been expounding on the splendors and indignities of American life by the time he got to the Troubadour in West Hollywood in the last week of August 1971.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
Since then, I’ve spent more than 40 years researching and expounding the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2025
Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation.
From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2024
“No,” Servais said, trying to be stubborn before laughing and expounding.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 6, 2024
Failure to contain Pauling might result in a London press conference with Linus expounding peaceful coexistence.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
