explain
Usage
What are other ways to say explain?
To explain is to make plain, clear, or intelligible something that is not known or understood: to explain a theory or a problem. To elucidate is to throw light on what before was dark and obscure, usually by illustration and commentary and sometimes by elaborate explanation: They asked him to elucidate his statement. To expound is to give a methodical, detailed, scholarly explanation of something, usually Scriptures, doctrines, or philosophy: to expound the doctrine of free will. To interpret is to give the meaning of something by paraphrase, by translation, or by an explanation based on personal opinion: to interpret a poem or a symbol.
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.
See Examples For:
And finally, with the SEC opening the door to tokenized equities, they explain what it means for stocks to be traded like crypto—and why AMC is beefing with Robinhood over it.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
“Part of my effort has been to explain that it is exactly the opposite. It’s a contribution to the process.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
For Rallabandi, one of the most important aspects of the study is that a relatively simple physical process can explain complicated motion seen in the real world.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
In the next free issue of my Let’s Analyze newsletter on Substack, I’ll reveal the company, explain why I’m buying more and share the price I’m targeting.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Oh, Mama, I don’t honestly know how to explain how I felt in that moment.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Sullivan, a professor of biology and virology, immunology & microbiology at Boston University, explains that bringing an outbreak under control depends on several measures working quickly together.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
What explains the insider buying at a time when energy prices and stocks might soon retreat hard?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
Next, Sam Sankar of the environmental-law organization Earthjustice explains why SCOTUS’ longstanding skepticism towards the environment does not make him as pessimistic as one might expect.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
Federal audit records for 2024 show that, despite having "an operating deficit", it had a surplus of millions of dollars - as Aisha Sembhi explains.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
“That explains a lot about you. What did you think about mine?”
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
They explained in a statement why making “NAZA” was so important.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
"It wasn't actually something we had in mind when we were developing the exhibition, or even when we asked the National Gallery if they would lend this painting," he explained.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Mark Hulbert explained why strong recent performance for growth stocks is actually a warning that a bubble may burst.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
They highlighted cases of police misuse elsewhere, such as officers stalking romantic partners, and explained how Flock’s system can create “heat maps,” showing where a vehicle has been over time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
“I was exploring unknown territory,” Duane explained to his host.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
But arguably more important than the art collection or the political strategy, and perhaps more important even than the dues collection, in explaining the Communist Party’s unlikely longevity, is the building we were in itself.
From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2026
Bank of America calculates this week’s Federal Open Market Committee statement explaining the decision to lift interest rates by a quarter-point as its most terse, at just 130 words, since 2007.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
"We also plan to stay here our whole lives," George adds, explaining that they are prepared to ride out any dips in the property market.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Mr. Amodei et al. would do themselves and the country a service by explaining that commonplace principle to Washington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
I must not’ve been doing a very good job explaining about Pokemon and being cool and lunch and everything, because Betsy went from looking confused-mad to just mad-mad.
From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
Vocabulary lists containing explain
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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