explain

Meaning

1. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
2. To give a valid excuse for past behavior.
3. (obsolete) To make flat, smooth out.
4. (obsolete) To unfold or make visible.
5. To make something plain or intelligible.

Synonyms

clarify

interpret

elucidate

expound

make clear

illustrate

tell

describe

explicate

teach

account for

show

define

construe

justify

translate

illuminate

demonstrate

account

solve

clear

clear up

narrate

declare

inform

make understand

preach

unfold

express

exemplify

excuse

explanation

relate

comment on

reason

resolve

reveal

enlighten

instruct

vindicate

speak

🗣️

gloss

advocate

analyse

answer

argue

confess

expand

gloze

indicate

make known

persuade

prove

rationalize

read

📖

rede

release

report

rinse

say

🗣️

settle

shed light on

spell out

state

talk

🗣️

unfurl

unroll

get straight

make plain

decribe

depict

demystify

increase

inculcate

annotate

defend

debunk

cover

intimate

correct

lay open

lay out

liberty

loose

loosen

make good

voice

mend

mention

convince

negotiate

note

offload

outline

paraphrase

parse

patch

zoom in

convey

present

proclaim

profession

prophesy

propound

advise

qualify

raise

rationalise

give an explanation

give to

comprehensible

make aware

refine

communicate

relax

analyze

reply

make evident

represent

commentate

comment

make visible

speak about

set forth

set free

tell a story

dispel doubts

comfort

signify

simplify

clean up

claim

give a reason

describe minu-tely

statement

submit

elucidate a point

articulate

arrange

testify

theory

give details

unbind

undo

announce

offer a reason

unloose

unravel

unriddle

give state reason

untie

edit

elaborate

dry

display

enumerate

discuss

disambiguate

unwrap

expatiate

expect

disagreement

direct

expose

exposit

digest

develop

formulate

free

🆓

give an accounting for

description

utter

greet

grow

Translations

expliquer

erklären

explicar

uitleggen

verklaren

erläutern

aclarar

darlegen

toelichten

anlatmak

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪkˈspleɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: explanen

In summary

From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“I flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“I flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.

Sentences

" That , I think , is for you to explain ," said Mrs M . stiffly .