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:
Experts point to several factors to explain the summer discomfort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
If you think you might need help paying for tuition, explain the situation to your university’s financial-aid office.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
The findings suggest that a person's prescription history may help explain differences in the gut microbiome years later.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
Perhaps, on Tuesday, director of cricket Rob Key will once again explain why the players he manages cannot keep themselves out of trouble.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
“It happened before I could think to take better note,” I explain.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Authorities also expanded a mandatory online training course for individual investors that explains the risks and tracks mock investments through hours of trading exercises.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
"The wavefunction is a fundamental quantity in quantum mechanics, yet it cannot be directly observed or measured," explains Professor Stefan Mathias at the University of Göttingen.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026
"A lot of these algorithms learn from how long users are staying on these videos," he explains.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
This explains why my brain reflexively associated Ritchson’s latest work in a movie classic cinema buffs would likely dismiss as trash, with one of the greatest performers of early 20th century cinema.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
“He needed a footbath,” Lizzie says, as if this explains everything.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Because 2025 was also dry, the trees became stressed, she explained, and this year most have just not made fruit at all, to save their energy.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
“Concerts used to give you a physical ticket and then they stopped,” she explained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
“Raising Cane’s is a step above other fast-food chicken forms,” one friend explained to me, a non-Caniac, over his three-finger combo.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026
"In summer, we are desperately short of staff," explained shift supervisor Giorgos Stamoulakatos.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
So we explained our problem to Aunt Melissa.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
I could also handwrite a last will and testament explaining my wishes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
“I think that Sebastian has a very tasteful approach,” she adds, explaining that his posts “showcase more of his talent and less of my home.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
CNN reported that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles met privately with Jennings at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Washington, with one senior administration official explaining the interest bluntly: Jennings is “competent and good on TV.”
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
"It feels a little bit better when you're at least a little closer," mother Agnes told the news agency, explaining that her daughter had called her to say that the students had been locked in.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
My aunt pulled me close as we passed along the jasmine, explaining in a hushed voice what she thought was Mr. Drysdale’s motivation for doing the killing.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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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