explain

verb

ex·plain ik-ˈsplān How to pronounce explain (audio)

explained; explaining; explains

transitive verb

: to make known

explain the secret of your success

: to make plain or understandable

footnotes that explain the terms

: to give the reason for or cause of

unable to explain his strange conduct

: to show the logical development or relationships of

explained the new theory

intransitive verb

: to make something plain or understandable

a report that suggests rather than explains

explainable

ik-ˈsplā-nə-bəl How to pronounce explain (audio)

adjective

Example Sentences

I need a lawyer to explain this contract to me. The professor explained the poem to the class. She explained how the machine worked. I explained to them that I would be available by phone. Scientists could not explain the strange lights in the sky. I don't know how to explain the dog's strange behavior. We asked him to explain his reasons to us. Can you explain why no one was informed earlier? That explains why we were so far behind schedule. Give me a chance to explain. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Kindergarten enrollments dropped to levels not seen since the 2000s, and public kindergartens lost 340,000 students from 2019 to 2020—a number that declining birth rates likely contributed to but cannot alone explain.

Keija Parssinen, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 Sean McDonnell reports the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio directed NOPEC to show cause and explain why its certificate to do business should not be revoked by Sept. 28.

Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022 The veteran elections official wanted to walk through how voting apparatuses are operated, broadly explain security and answer any questions from her neighbors about the process.

Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2022 Visitors can walk through much of the workspace, where staff members are on hand to demonstrate and explain the weaving, knitting, lasering, tufting and embroidery techniques employed today.

Diane Daniel, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 The new legislation is intended to clarify the process, better define what constitutes a qualifying act of violence, and explain what steps a property owner can take to keep a place from being declared a public nuisance.

George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 So if anatomy doesn’t explain why pain turns chronic, what does?

Haider Warraich, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2022 According to Frank, Peters then asked a person in charge of training staff members on signature verification to come in and explain how the process works.

Sue Halpern, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 So the loss or reintroduction of a predator can trigger cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, and Zanette says that killing alone doesn’t explain all those effects.

Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Sep. 2022 See More

单词	explaining
释义	explain verb ex·plain ik-ˈsplān explained; explaining; explains transitive verb 1 a : to make known explain the secret of your success b : to make plain or understandable footnotes that explain the terms 2 : to give the reason for or cause of unable to explain his strange conduct 3 : to show the logical development or relationships of explained the new theory intransitive verb : to make something plain or understandable a report that suggests rather than explains explainable ik-ˈsplā-nə-bəl adjective Phrases explain oneself : to clarify one's statements or the reasons for one's conduct Synonyms clarify clear (up) construe demonstrate demystify elucidate explicate expound get across illuminate illustrate interpret simplify spell out unriddle See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences I need a lawyer to explain this contract to me. The professor explained the poem to the class. She explained how the machine worked. I explained to them that I would be available by phone. Scientists could not explain the strange lights in the sky. I don't know how to explain the dog's strange behavior. We asked him to explain his reasons to us. Can you explain why no one was informed earlier? That explains why we were so far behind schedule. Give me a chance to explain. See More Recent Examples on the Web Kindergarten enrollments dropped to levels not seen since the 2000s, and public kindergartens lost 340,000 students from 2019 to 2020—a number that declining birth rates likely contributed to but cannot alone explain. Keija Parssinen, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2022 Sean McDonnell reports the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio directed NOPEC to show cause and explain why its certificate to do business should not be revoked by Sept. 28. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022 The veteran elections official wanted to walk through how voting apparatuses are operated, broadly explain security and answer any questions from her neighbors about the process. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 8 Sep. 2022 Visitors can walk through much of the workspace, where staff members are on hand to demonstrate and explain the weaving, knitting, lasering, tufting and embroidery techniques employed today. Diane Daniel, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 The new legislation is intended to clarify the process, better define what constitutes a qualifying act of violence, and explain what steps a property owner can take to keep a place from being declared a public nuisance. George Chidi, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2022 So if anatomy doesn’t explain why pain turns chronic, what does? Haider Warraich, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2022 According to Frank, Peters then asked a person in charge of training staff members on signature verification to come in and explain how the process works. Sue Halpern, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2022 So the loss or reintroduction of a predator can trigger cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, and Zanette says that killing alone doesn’t explain all those effects. Sam Zlotnik, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English explanen, from Latin explanare, literally, to make level, from ex- + planus level, flat — more at floor First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b Phrases Containing explain hasten to add/say/explain (etc.) explain away explain oneself hasten to add/say/explain (etc.) explain away explain oneself Kids Definition explain verb ex·plain ik-ˈsplān explained; explaining 1 : to make clear : clarify Let me explain how it works. 2 : to give the reasons for or cause of Please explain why you're late. explaining verb present participle of explain 1 as in clarifying to make plain or understandable a pamphlet that explains the medical procedure in language that any layperson can understand Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance clarifying illustrating demonstrating simplifying interpreting illuminating elucidating explicating expounding demystifying analyzing construing defining specifying resolving deciphering solving spelling out getting across unriddling decoding clearing (up) unraveling disentangling untangling undoing glossing annotating unscrambling commentating breaking down Antonyms & Near Antonyms obscuring confusing clouding confounding obfuscating befogging 2 as in justifying to give the reason for or cause of can you explain your very odd behavior at the wedding reception? Synonyms & Similar Words justifying rationalizing attributing excusing explaining away forgiving condoning accounting (for) exonerating vindicating absolving exculpating acquitting
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explain

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing explain

Kids Definition

verb

verb