explain
- 01 A1 Beginner
to tell someone about something in a way that is easy to understand.
to make a concept, process, or situation intelligible by providing descriptive details or illustrations.
Simple“The teacher used a diagram to explain how the water cycle works.”
In context“The manual fails to explain the initial setup process clearly, leaving many users frustrated during the first hour of operation.”
UsageOften used with a 'that' clause or a 'wh-' clause (how, why, what).
PitfallCan you explain me the rules? Can you explain the rules to me?The verb 'explain' does not take an indirect object (the person) immediately after it. You must explain 'something' (the direct object) 'to someone'.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
to give a reason for why something happened or why you did something.
to provide a justification, cause, or rationale for an action, event, or state of affairs.
Simple“He tried to explain why he was late, but his boss was still angry.”
In context“The CEO was called before the board to explain the sudden discrepancy in the quarterly financial reports.”
UsageFrequently followed by a prepositional phrase starting with 'why' or 'for'.
Synonyms
explain vs tell — Explain focuses on the details or reasons behind a topic, while tell focuses on the transfer of information to a specific person.
Usage explain the decline · explains his decision · explains lead
From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.