detail
Americannoun
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details
plural
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an individual or minute part; an item or particular.
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particulars collectively; minutiae.
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attention to or treatment of a subject in individual or minute parts.
to postpone detail and concentrate on a subject as a whole.
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intricate, finely wrought decoration.
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Engineering. detail drawing.
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any small section of a larger structure or whole, considered as a unit.
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Military.
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an appointment or assignment, as of a small group or an officer, for a special task.
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the party or person so selected.
the kitchen detail.
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a particular assignment of duty.
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the property of an image or of a method of image production to make small, closely spaced image elements individually distinguishable.
verb (used with object)
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details,
present (3rd person singular)
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detailed,
past participle, past
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detailing
present participle
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to relate or report with complete particulars; tell fully and distinctly.
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to mention one by one; specify; list.
He detailed the events leading up to the robbery.
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Military. to appoint or assign for some particular duty.
We were detailed to patrol the border.
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to provide with intricate, finely wrought decoration.
lingerie detailed with lace and embroidery.
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to thoroughly clean (a vehicle or part of a vehicle) and do minor repairs to improve its appearance.
We detail the wheels and chrome to remove the rust.
idioms
noun
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an item or smaller part that is considered separately; particular
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an item or circumstance that is insignificant or unimportant
passengers' comfort was regarded as a detail
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treatment of or attention to items or particulars
this essay includes too much detail
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items collectively; particulars
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a small or accessory section or element in a painting, building, statue, etc, esp when considered in isolation
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military
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the act of assigning personnel for a specific duty, esp a fatigue
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the personnel selected
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the duty or assignment
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to include all or most particulars
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including all or most particulars or items thoroughly
verb
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to list or relate fully
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military to select (personnel) for a specific duty
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to decorate or elaborate (carving, etc) with fine delicate drawing or designs
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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detailsimple
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detailssimple
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have detailedperfect
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has detailedperfect
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am detailingprogressive
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are detailingprogressive
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is detailingprogressive
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have been detailingperfect progressive
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has been detailingperfect progressive
Past
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detailedsimple
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had detailedperfect
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was detailingprogressive
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were detailingprogressive
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had been detailingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of detail
First recorded in 1595–1605; from French détail, Old French, noun derivative of detailler “to cut in pieces,” equivalent to de- “away, apart , etc.” ( see dis- 1) + tailler “to cut,” from unattested Vulgar Latin taliāre; see tailor 1
Explanation
A detail is a small fact or spot in a larger entity. That ambiguous smile is just one detail of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Detail comes from the French for cutting into pieces, but in English we only use it to refer to the pieces. As a noun, detail means an isolated aspect of something larger. If you're painting a landscape, don't forget details like individual birds and trees. Detail can also mean a team of workers for a special task. If you go on a group camping trip, try for the food detail instead of the trash detail.
Vocabulary lists containing detail
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 3
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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:
Canaccord analyst George Gianarikas said the market is broadly hoping that Tesla won’t just announce a geographic expansion, but rather detail a plan to deploy more than just a handful of Cybercabs in some markets.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
"The devil will be in the detail," Menon summarised on the talks with Burnham.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
They are further distinguished by their meticulous topographical, biological and marine detail and precise layering of colors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
When we celebrate today, whether it's glitter, your hair, what nails you decide to do - every little detail matters.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
While describing the trip, he left out an important detail.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Those details presumably would have been submitted as evidence at a trial, which now will not take place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The book, published Sept. 1, details Booth’s early years at the forefront of the index-fund revolution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Talks with Meghan are understood to be in the early stages, but the details of the discussions and any role she might be offered have not yet been revealed.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
She added, without giving details, that there had also been new pledges of desperately-needed air defence missiles for Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
If I wanted neat lines and sharp details, the stitches would have to be tiny.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Mark Pierce, senior review officer, said: "Forensic results, combined with a detailed review of witness evidence, have provided grounds to interview four people on suspicion of perverting the course of justice."
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
The whistleblower account detailed a series of problems with development and testing of the new computer system, which the person said can take nine months to a year to debug.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
Morgan said in a separate note that detailed data would be required to fully assess the drug’s efficacy profile relative to Roche’s rival oral multiple sclerosis drug candidate fenebrutinib and another class of treatments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Starring newcomers Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ronald Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, the series promises a richer, more detailed adaptation of the books, along with a more contemporary feel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
In 1665, the English scientist Robert Hooke published this detailed drawing of a flea as seen through the newly invented microscope.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Allen had a document of ideas detailing the types of characters she wanted to see depicted, including a star athlete, the first out queer character in the show’s universe and an African student.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
In 2023, a woman showed up at the couple’s home, angry that John Overdeck had canceled their dinner plans, according to a New York Post report detailing a police video it said it obtained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
A lifelong Parton fan, Hadley chokes up while detailing how she was at work when a friend texted to say the singer had died.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Families like Faber's repeatedly remarked on how well curated the books were - detailing how topics helped their children not just with reading, but also with social and emotional development.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
By the time Katherine finishes detailing the viciousness of her nonexistent stepmother and the death of her father, the preacher is near to tears himself.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
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.
