Pronunciation

/ɪkˈspleɪn/

Definitions

• Verb: To make (something) clear and understandable by giving details about it, often with accompanying reasons or causes. For example: “The teacher explained the concept with a diagram.”
  • Transitive usage: “Can you explain the rules to me?”
  • Intransitive usage: “He sat down to explain his decision.”
• Noun: An explanation or the act of explaining something. For example: “She offered a plausible explain for her tardiness.”

Phrases

• “To explain away” means to offer an explanation that tries to make something seem less important or acceptable than it really is. For example: “He tried to explain away his mistake by blaming it on the system.”
• “Explain oneself” means to give an explanation or justification for one’s actions or beliefs. For example: “She was asked to explain herself after her controversial statement.”

Example Sentences

• Verb: “The scientist spent hours explaining the complex theory to his students.”
  • As a noun: “His detailed explain helped me understand the project requirements better.”

Synonyms

• Elucidate
• Clarify
• Interpret
• Expound
• Illustrate
• Demonstrate
• Educate
• Illuminate
• Shed light on