# explaining

/ɪksˈpɫeɪnɪŋ/ (US) · /ɛksplˈeɪnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/explaining
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. making something clear

verb · CEFR A2

giving details about something so that someone can understand it.

For teachers: the present participle of 'explain', used to describe the ongoing action of making a concept or situation intelligible.

- The teacher is explaining the new math lesson to the students right now.
- The scientist spent the afternoon explaining the implications of the new data to the rest of the research committee.

Usage: Often followed by a 'that' clause or the preposition 'to' before the listener.

### 2. the act of clarification

noun · CEFR B1

the process of telling someone how something works or why something happened.

For teachers: the gerund form of 'explain', acting as a noun to denote the activity or process of providing an explanation.

- Explaining the rules of cricket can take a very long time.
- The manager found that explaining the company's new policy required more patience than he had originally anticipated.

Usage: Functions as the subject or object of a sentence.

## Examples

- She is explaining the rules of the game to us.
- The teacher spent the entire afternoon explaining the complex math problem to the students until they finally understood it.
- By explaining the historical context of the treaty, the professor provided the students with a much deeper appreciation for the current geopolitical tensions in the region.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.