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

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How to use explain in a sentence?

1. Naoko Hiramatsu:

   If I don't take action and try to put a stop on this, I will not be able to explain myself to my child in the future.

2. Jeanne Calment:

   Always keep your smile. That's how I explain my long life.

3. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati:

   I had him on the phone for a good amount of time so he could really explain to me what he was trying to tell me. My question to him was, ‘ Is this really necessary ? Does this really need to be a three-day suspension under the circumstances that he was playing and he’s 6 years old ?

4. Sheryl Ross:

   I think the doctors should be somewhat open to it but also explain why it wouldn’t be safe to do, if you have the conversation before and the couple is informed, there will be no surprises or disappoints in the end.

5. Paul LePage:

   Asylum seekers, I think the biggest problem in our state, and I'll explain that to you, what happens is you get hepatitis C, tuberculosis, AIDS, HIV, the 'ziki fly,' all these other foreign type of diseases that find a way to our land.