detail
1 of 2noun
de·tail di-ˈtāl 
ˈdē-ˌtāl
ˈdē-ˌtāl 1
: extended treatment of or attention to particular items
explaining without going into detail
giving careful attention to detail
2
: a part of a whole: such as
a
: a small and subordinate part : particular
planned the wedding down to the smallest detail
also : a reproduction of such a part of a work of art
b
: a part considered or requiring to be considered separately from the whole
discussing the details of the building's columns
c
: the small elements that collectively constitute a work of art
admire the great detail of his work
d
photography : the small elements of an image corresponding to those of the subject
strong lighting to achieve clarity of detail
3
a
: selection of a person or group for a particular task (as in military service)
b(1)
: the person or group selected
a member of a security detail
police details at the parade
(2)
: the task to be performed
were assigned to kitchen detail
detail
2 of 2verb
detailed; detailing; details
transitive verb
1
: to report minutely and distinctly : to report with close attention to small elements : specify
detailed their grievances
wrote a letter detailing her vacation
2
: to assign to a particular task
was detailed to another unit during maneuvers
3
: to furnish with the smaller elements of design and finish
trimmings that detail slips and petticoats
4
: to clean and refurbish (a vehicle) very thoroughly and meticulously
detail a car
intransitive verb
: to make detail drawings
detailer noun
Synonyms
Noun
- item
- particular
- point
Verb
- post
- station
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Every detail of the wedding was carefully planned. They designed every detail of the house. the wooden box's fine carved detail We admired the detail of the artist's work. The job requires attention to detail. The article provides further details. You left out an important detail about their new baby: is it a girl or boy? The novel is full of historical details. The book includes a wealth of detail on living conditions aboard ships at that time. The novel is full of historical detail. Verb The book details the series of events that led to the tragedy. She wrote a letter detailing her complaints. The Army has detailed him to investigate the complaints. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Smith, BGR, 10 Sep. 2022 Clint Hill, a secret service agent, was assigned to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's protection detail after President John F. Kennedy's election, and stayed by her side from 1960 through 1964—including on the fateful day in Dallas. The Editors, Town & Country, 9 Sep. 2022 High resolution of intricate musical material is apparent at frequency extremes, with immersive bass, extended highs and, importantly, plentiful midrange detail that brings music to life. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 This year’s attractions promise new scenes, more scares and exceptional detail, according to the Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory website. Megan Becka, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 Police quickly noted that German was an investigative journalist and took that detail into account when investigating. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2022 While Kylie opted for a more futuristic neckline and peplum detail, Kris leaned particularly hard into the luxurious concept with a pair of satin opera gloves and a cheeky thigh slit. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2022 That detail and others were revealed this week, after a judge ordered the Justice Department to further unredact documents related to its insider trading investigation into Burr. Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 7 Sep. 2022 The style is based on stripping away anything extraneous, any distracting detail, to get to what the artist believes is the unfiltered truth of the subject. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Michael Murney, Chron, 31 Aug. 2022 The records detail a four-year history of mental health problems for nurse Nicole Linton, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022 These guidelines also detail the evidence that must be submitted. David Williams, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 Both lawsuits detail the truck’s journey from a San Francisco Bay area gem show to a truck stop north of Los Angeles, where it was broken into. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Public websites maintained by activists detail another strategy that pushes the legal envelope: using mail-forwarding accounts with commercial shipping services. Christopher Rowland, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2022 Court documents detail more and more dangerous behavior from Davidson. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2022 The film will detail the creative process behind how its jewelry collections are crafted and produced, how gems are selected, and how select pieces end up as part of red carpet looks. Evan Nicole Brown, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 As a group, their latest albums, Face the Sun and Sector 17 — which became their first top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 — detail their collective, arduous journey in career navigations before celebrating coming out on the other side. Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
As usual, this enforcement report doesn’t offer much detail about the recall. Chris Smith, BGR, 10 Sep. 2022 Clint Hill, a secret service agent, was assigned to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's protection detail after President John F. Kennedy's election, and stayed by her side from 1960 through 1964—including on the fateful day in Dallas. The Editors, Town & Country, 9 Sep. 2022 High resolution of intricate musical material is apparent at frequency extremes, with immersive bass, extended highs and, importantly, plentiful midrange detail that brings music to life. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 This year’s attractions promise new scenes, more scares and exceptional detail, according to the Haunted Schoolhouse and Laboratory website. Megan Becka, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 Police quickly noted that German was an investigative journalist and took that detail into account when investigating. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2022 While Kylie opted for a more futuristic neckline and peplum detail, Kris leaned particularly hard into the luxurious concept with a pair of satin opera gloves and a cheeky thigh slit. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 8 Sep. 2022 That detail and others were revealed this week, after a judge ordered the Justice Department to further unredact documents related to its insider trading investigation into Burr. Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 7 Sep. 2022 The style is based on stripping away anything extraneous, any distracting detail, to get to what the artist believes is the unfiltered truth of the subject. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
The records detail Linton's four-year struggle with bipolar disorder that preceded her Aug. 4 crash that killed five people, including a pregnant woman whose unborn fetus did not survive. Michael Murney, Chron, 31 Aug. 2022 The records detail a four-year history of mental health problems for nurse Nicole Linton, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022 These guidelines also detail the evidence that must be submitted. David Williams, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 Both lawsuits detail the truck’s journey from a San Francisco Bay area gem show to a truck stop north of Los Angeles, where it was broken into. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 Public websites maintained by activists detail another strategy that pushes the legal envelope: using mail-forwarding accounts with commercial shipping services. Christopher Rowland, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2022 Court documents detail more and more dangerous behavior from Davidson. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2022 The film will detail the creative process behind how its jewelry collections are crafted and produced, how gems are selected, and how select pieces end up as part of red carpet looks. Evan Nicole Brown, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Aug. 2022 As a group, their latest albums, Face the Sun and Sector 17 — which became their first top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 — detail their collective, arduous journey in career navigations before celebrating coming out on the other side. Jeff Benjamin, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
French détail, from Old French detail slice, piece, from detaillier to cut in pieces, from de- + taillier to cut — more at tailor
First Known Use
Noun
1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1650, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing detail
Kids Definition
detail 1 of 2
noun
de·tail di-ˈtāl
ˈdē-ˌtāl
1
: a dealing with something with attention to each item
The news story went into detail.
2
: a small part of something larger : item
Every detail of the wedding was perfect.
3
: a soldier or group of soldiers picked for special duty
detail
2 of 2verb
detailed; detailing
1
: to report with attention to each item
The book detailed the events.
2
: to select for some special duty
detail 1 of 2
noun
1
as in item
a separate part in a list, account, or series every detail was accounted for Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- item
- particular
- thing
- stuff
- article
- point
- object
- characteristic
- element
- feature
- section
- component
- factor
- piece
- member
- portion
- ingredient
- segment
- belonging
- particle
- constituent
- division
- partition
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- compound
- whole
- aggregate
- total
- sum
- entirety
- composite
- summation
- conglomerate
- totality
2
as in fact
a single piece of information didn't leave out a single detail in his police report on the burglary Synonyms & Similar Words
- fact
- particular
- article
- specific
- item
- element
- particularity
- point
- information
- aspect
- factor
- part
- nicety
- datum
- evidence
- circumstance
- component
- ingredient
- knowledge
- facet
- member
- exhibit
- database
- constituent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- error
- inaccuracy
- fallacy
- myth
- misconception
- falsehood
- misstatement
3
as in detachment
a small military unit with a special task or function the officer sent out a detail to patrol the perimeter of the compound Synonyms & Similar Words
- detachment
- patrol
- battalion
- squad
- troop
- squadron
- platoon
- watch
- wing
- rear guard
- corps
- command
- regiment
- picket
- outpost
- sentry
- commando
- company
- firing squad
- division
- paratroops
4
as in job
a specific task with which a person or group is charged the soldier was placed on guard detail at the border crossing Synonyms & Similar Words
- job
- assignment
- mission
- post
- brief
- responsibility
- operation
- duty
- requirement
- work
- business
- obligation
- need
- promise
- commitment
- office
- charge
- burden
- restraint
- commission
- labor
- chore
- errand
- constraint
- designation
- pledge
- appointment
- compulsion
- nomination
detail
2 of 2verb
1
as in to post
to assign to a place or position once again he was detailed to guard duty Synonyms & Similar Words
- post
- place
- station
- position
- set
- appoint
2
as in to name
to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty the new assistant was detailed to accompany the boss on the business trip Synonyms & Similar Words
- name
- commission
- nominate
- appoint
- place
- assign
- constitute
- attach
- designate
- delegate
- choose
- create
- induct
- authorize
- crown
- select
- institute
- elect
- install
- depute
- draft
- consecrate
- ordain
- invest
- deputize
- throne
- make
- instate
- anoint
- inaugurate
- enthrone
- single (out)
- destine
- handpick
- vote (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dismiss
- discharge
- fire
- expel
- remove
- throw out
- overthrow
- displace
- eject
- depose
- uncrown
- evict
- unmake
- unseat
- oust
- dethrone
- blackball
3
as in to list
to specify one after another detailed all of the reasons that the plan was a bad idea Synonyms & Similar Words
- list
- outline
- recite
- mention
- itemize
- figure
- enumerate
- catalog
- reel off
- chart
- numerate
- graph
- rehearse
- diagram
- inventory
- tick (off)
- estimate
- tally
- cite
- catalogue
- tabulate
- calculate
- name
- compute
- reckon
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- generalize
Synonym Chooser
The words item and particular are common synonyms of detail. While all three words mean "one of the distinct parts of a whole," detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process.
leave the details to others
In some situations, the words item and detail are roughly equivalent. However, item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated.
every item on the list
While in some cases nearly identical to detail, particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item.
a description that included few particulars