Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense explains, present participle explaining, past tense, past participle explained
1. verb
If you explain something, you give details about it or describe it so that it can be understood.
Not every judge, however, has the ability to explain the law in simple terms. [VERB noun]
Don't sign anything until your solicitor has explained the contract to you. [VERB noun + to]
Professor Griffiths explained how the drug appears to work. [VERB wh]
'He and Mrs Stein have a plan,' she explained. [VERB with quote]
I explained that each person has different ideas of what freedom is. [VERB that]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: make clear or plain, describe, demonstrate, illustrate More Synonyms of explain
2. verb
If you explain something that has happened, you give people reasons for it, especially in an attempt to justify it.
'Let me explain, sir.'—'Don't tell me about it. I don't want to know.'. [VERB]
Before she ran away, she left a note explaining her actions. [VERB noun]
Hospital discipline was broken. Amy would have to explain herself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Explain why you didn't phone. [VERB wh]
The receptionist apologized for the delay, explaining that it had been a hectic day. [VERB that]
Phrasal verbs:
See explain away
More Synonyms of explain
explain in British English
(ɪkˈspleɪn)
verb
1. (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
2. (transitive)
to justify or attempt to justify (oneself) by giving reasons for one's actions or words
Derived forms
explainable (exˈplainable)
adjective
explainer (exˈplainer)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin explānāre to flatten, from plānus level
explain in American English
(ɛkˈspleɪn; ɪkˈspleɪn)
verb transitive
1.
to make clear, plain, or understandable
2.
to give the meaning or interpretation of; expound
3.
to account for; state reasons for
verb intransitive
4.
to give an explanation
Idioms:
explain away
explain oneself
SYNONYMY NOTE: explain implies a making clear or intelligible of something that is not known or understood[to explain how a machine operates]; expound implies a systematic and thorough explanation, often one made by a person havingexpert knowledge [to expound a theory]; explicate implies a scholarly analysis or exposition that is developed in detail [the explication of a Biblical passage]; elucidate implies a shedding light upon by clear and specific explanation, illustration, etc.[to elucidate the country's foreign policy]; to interpret is to bring out meanings not immediately apparent, as by translation, searching insight,or special knowledge [how do you interpret his silence?]; construe suggests a particular interpretation of something whose meaning is ambiguous [his statement is not to be lightly construed]
Derived forms
explainable (exˈplainable)
adjective
Word origin
ME explanen < L explanare, to flatten < ex-, out + planare, to make level < planus, level (see plane1): sp. infl. by plain1
Examples of 'explain' in a sentence
explain
The site also explains where to make improvements in energy efficiency and how much they could save you on your bills.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So the vote has to be explained away as an emotional spasm, an irrational cry of pain or a moment of populist anger.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Because why do I need to explain always about one or two players?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He joked that people'might think that explains a lot about my recent behaviour '.
The Sun (2016)
His respect for produce runs deep, which helps explain what makes him an intuitive, natural chef.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If they are old enough, explain about tooth decay and why it's important to get back to healthy food.
The Sun (2016)
But also explain you will give her some space to save her marriage, if that's what she feels she wants.
The Sun (2016)
We explained about how and why we did so on our website.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can think about money realistically and the way you explain plans gives others confidence in you.
The Sun (2013)
Then you wait for an email explaining how to make an application.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The success partly explains the delay to his second album.
The Sun (2013)
Both spin tales to explain away what has happened.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They simply use religion to explain or justify the actions they would have undertaken for other reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This reality explains much about the complaints directed at the leader.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They do not have to explain why or give details of the score they hold for you.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She explained it would make my legs look longer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The remaining definition attempts to explain and justify this controversial definition.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
This might explain a lot about the man.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
My leaflet on counselling explains more and gives sources of support.
The Sun (2014)
The amount of spending explains about half the variation in points.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My leaflet about bereavement explains where you can all find help for your loss.
The Sun (2009)
Let her try explaining that away.
The Sun (2015)
The three-week delay is easily explained by the poor weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Tell him he has one chance to explain himself and make changes but you're worth more.
The Sun (2012)
Payment shield's attempts at explaining the delay were unsatisfactory.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This does not merely explain the origin of morals, it totally explains them away.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Mrs Keen has shown utter contempt for her constituents by refusing to explain or justify her actions.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She also explains how to make bolognese the Italian way.
The Sun (2012)
These verses are not here to be explained away 99 percent of the time.
Christianity Today (2000)
We vote for them, then they spend our money on themselves without having to explainor justify it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quotations
Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anywayElbert HubbardThe Motto Book
In other languages
explain
British English: explain /ɪkˈspleɪn/ VERB
If you explain something, you give details about it or describe it so that it can be understood.
I had a meeting with him and explained the situation.
American English: explain
Arabic: يَشْرَحُ
Brazilian Portuguese: explicar-se
Chinese: 解释
Croatian: objasniti
Czech: vysvětlit
Danish: forklare
Dutch: uitleggen
European Spanish: explicar
Finnish: selittää
French: expliquer
German: erklären
Greek: εξηγώ
Italian: spiegare
Japanese: 説明する
Korean: 설명하다
Norwegian: forklare
Polish: wyjaśnić
European Portuguese: explicar
Romanian: a explica
Russian: объяснять
Latin American Spanish: explicar
Swedish: förklara
Thai: อธิบาย
Turkish: açıklamak izah
Ukrainian: пояснювати
Vietnamese: giải thích
All related terms of 'explain'
re-explain
to explain again or in a different way
explain away
If someone explains away a mistake or a bad situation they are responsible for, they try to indicate that it is unimportant or that it is not really their fault .
explain oneself
to make clear what one means
explain the reason
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
explain the meaning
The meaning of what someone says or of something such as a book or film is the thoughts or ideas that are intended to be expressed by it.
explain the science
Science is the study of the nature and behaviour of natural things and the knowledge that we obtain about them.
explain the situation
You use situation to refer generally to what is happening in a particular place at a particular time, or to refer to what is happening to you.
explain the phenomenon
A phenomenon is something that is observed to happen or exist.
Chinese translation of 'explain'
explain
(ɪksˈpleɪn)
vt
(= make understandable)[situation, contract]解释(釋) (jiěshì)
(= give reasons for)[decision, actions]阐(闡)明 (chǎnmíng)
to explain why/how etc解释(釋)为(為)什么(麼)/如何等 (jiěshì wèi shénme/rúhé děng)
to explain sth to sb向某人解释(釋)某事 (xiàng mǒurén jiěshì mǒushì)