Synonyms for explain
ɪkˈspleɪnex·plain

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. explainverb

   To give a sufficiently detailed report about (a) the reason for something, about why something happened, about a causal chain of events; about (b) how something works, about how elements in a system interact; about (c) how to do something, about the steps which need to be accomplished in order to accomplish a certain goal.

   Synonyms:
   expound, elaborate

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.8 / 4 votes

1. explain

   Synonyms:
   expound, teach, illustrate, clear up, interpret, elucidate, decipher

   Antonyms:
   mystify, obscure, darken, bewilder, misinterpret

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.7 / 3 votes

1. explain, explicateverb

   make plain and comprehensible

   "He explained the laws of physics to his students"

   Synonyms:
   excuse, explicate, formulate, develop

2. explainverb

   define

   "The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean"

   Synonyms:
   excuse, explicate

3. excuse, explainverb

   serve as a reason or cause or justification of

   "Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at work"; "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"

   Synonyms:
   relieve, rationalize, explicate, let off, beg off, excuse, pardon, condone, apologise, exempt, rationalise, apologize, justify

Matched Categories

1. • Inform
   • Justify
   • State

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 2 votes

1. explainverb

   Synonyms:
   interpret, elucidate, expound, illustrate, unfold, solve, ECLAIRCIZE, clear up, make plain, throw light upon

2. explainverb

   Synonyms:
   account, give a reason, give an explanation

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. explainverb

   Synonyms:
   expound, elucidate, unfold, interpret

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "explain":

   explaining, explained, explains, clarify, explanation, declare, describe, justify, interpret, tell, elaborate, indicate

How to pronounce explain?

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How to use explain in a sentence?

1. Alexander Colvin:

   There has been an uptick in organizing. But that’s not enough to explain a lot of the change, a lot of the increase was the return of jobs lost in the pandemic in key unionized industries.

2. Officer Tyler Beddoes:

   I think it was Dewitt who said, 'We're trying. We're trying our best to get in there.' How do you explain that? I don't know.

3. Dora Cavalcanti:

   That phrase 'destroy email' meant 'explain' or 'refute' the allegations about the email.

4. Rebecca Lim:

   If the minister is not making the decision to release the men into community detention because it is not in the public interest, then he needs to explain what that means, indefinite detention is wrong.

5. Jack Reed:

   I feel, in all fairness, you have to give the opportunity to the nominee to explain himself or herself.