Word Explorer
Explain
/ɛkˈspleɪn/
To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
📖 Definitions of "Explain"
- 1
To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
"To explain a chapter of the Bible."
- 2
To give a valid excuse for past behavior.
- 3
To make flat, smooth out.
- 4
To unfold or make visible.
🔄 Synonyms of "Explain"
2 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.
↔️ Antonyms of "Explain"
Words with the opposite meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| retailnoun | (business) The sale of goods directly to the consumer, encompassing the storefronts, mail-order, websites, etc., and the corporate mechanisms, branding, advertising, etc. that support them. |
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Explain"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| explicateverb | (transitive) To explain meticulously or in great detail. |
| excuseverb | (transitive) To forgive; to pardon; to overlook. |
| declareverb | (transitive, intransitive) To assert or announce formally, officially, explicitly, or emphatically. |
| elucidateverb | (figurative) To make (something) clear and understandable; to clarify, to illuminate, to shed light on. |
| clarifyingnoun | Providing clarity; making clear. |
| defineverb | To state the meaning of a word, phrase, sign, or symbol. |
| explanationnoun | Something that explains or makes understandable. |
| explanatory | Intended to serve as an explanation. |
| specifyverb | (transitive) To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition. |
| commentverb | (intransitive, with "on" or "about") To make remarks or notes; to express a view regarding. |
| mentionverb | To make a short reference to something. |
| indicateverb | (transitive, sometimes with 'of') To point out; to discover; to direct to a knowledge of; to show; to make known. |
| resultverb | (intransitive, followed by "in") To have as a consequence; to lead to; to bring about |
| attributable | Capable of being attributed. |
| understandverb | (transitive, intransitive, of communication or means of communication: words, statements, signs, etc.) To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend. |
| demonstrateverb | (transitive) To show, display, or present; to prove or make evident |
| expoundverb | (transitive) To set out the meaning of; to explain or discuss at length. |
| answerverb | (ambitransitive) To make a reply or response to. |
| tellverb | (transitive, ditransitive) To convey by speech; to say. |
| rationalenoun | An explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons for something. |
⚡ Words Strongly Associated with "Explain"
These words statistically appear in the same text as "explain" (Google Books Ngrams).
🎨 Adjectives for "Explain"
Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.
🏷️ Nouns for "Explain"
Common nouns this word is used to describe.
📝 Common Phrases with "Explain"
Words that come before
🌐 Broader and Narrower Concepts
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