Phrasal verb
pad out
Definition
phrasal verb. to make a piece of writing or a speech longer by adding extra information that is not really necessary.
phrasal verb. to increase the length of a text or speech by adding superfluous or redundant material. As an optionally separable phrasal verb, the object can appear before or after the particle.
Examples
“I had to pad out my essay to reach the word count.”
“The speaker didn't have enough data for a full hour, so he padded out the presentation with stories about his childhood.”
“Critics argued that the novelist had padded out the middle chapters with excessive descriptions to justify the book's premium price point.”
Examples
simple
“I had to pad out my essay to reach the word count.”
contextual
“The speaker didn't have enough data for a full hour, so he padded out the presentation with stories about his childhood.”
complex
“Critics argued that the novelist had padded out the middle chapters with excessive descriptions to justify the book's premium price point.”
Usage
usually used when referring to writing, reports, or speeches that feel too short.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'expand' or 'elaborate', which imply adding valuable detail; 'pad out' suggests the extra content is just 'filler'.
Pitfall
The essay was too short, so I padded out.
The essay was too short, so I padded it out.
the verb is transitive and requires a direct object to indicate what is being lengthened.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
pad + out + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/pad-out