expound
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to set forth or state in detail.
to expound theories.
-
to explain; interpret.
verb (used without object)
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
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have expoundedperfect
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has expoundedperfect
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am expoundingprogressive
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are expoundingprogressive
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is expoundingprogressive
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have been expoundingperfect progressive
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has been expoundingperfect progressive
Past
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expoundedsimple
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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:
Her resignation, however, afforded her the freedom to expound the political ideas that are expected to feature heavily in Burnham's administration.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 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
“I therefore deprecate attempts to expound Wittgenstein’s thought as a finished thing.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
A curved index finger rises up from the rest like a speaker separating from a crowd and preparing to expound.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
Jus decides to take a page from Docs book: “Care to expound a bit?”
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
Each of Ms. Pearsall’s chapters expounds on a word from the Declaration of Independence—such as “liberty,” “honor” and “happiness”—as a value that “prompted behavior among all kinds of people.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
In an interview with The Times that has been edited and condensed for clarity and space, Silverman expounds on developing this landmark episode.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2024
Epictetus, another influential Stoic philosopher, expounds on the idea of authenticity and resistance to conformity in his "Discourses."
From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2024
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
"I'm extremely tired and I am irate that this word 'deliberate' keeps being expounded in this courtroom," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2025
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
Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
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
Perhaps Stone surmised that it’s best to keep his mystique alive, as opposed to expounding on his life at great length in the fashion of Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2023
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.
