explain
verb (used with object)
to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible.
were explaining
-
past progressiveof explain.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“We were explaining what our goals were and were like, ‘We want to transcend the sport,’” Lyles said this spring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2023
During the World Cup, England would often put him up to brighten up rainy day press conferences when his less creative teammates were explaining they were going to take each game as it came.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 3, 2019
The people I was talking to were—they were all obsessed with small local elections, and they were explaining to me, in great detail, why that was the path forward.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2017
Another Western diplomat said foreign ambassadors were explaining their countries' positions to Congress in the hope that they would find their way to the White House.
From Reuters ● Jan. 27, 2017
Sometimes, for dramatic effect, we would hold the flashlights under our chins while we were explaining something in detail.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
