explain
[verb]
Synonyms:
- make clear or plain, clarify, clear up, define, describe, elucidate, expound, resolve, teach
- account for, excuse, give a reason for, justify

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Antonyms: obfuscate
Contrasted words: confound, confuse, puzzle
Related Idioms: put into plain English
Related Words: decipher, disentangle, undo, unravel, unriddle, unscramble, untangle, analyze, break down, clear up, resolve, solve, condone, excuse, absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

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English Thesaurus: explain, tell, show, demonstrate, go through something, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ex‧plain S1 W1 /ɪkˈspleɪn/ verb [intransitive and transitive]
[Word Family: adjective: unexplained, explanatory, explicable ≠ inexplicable; noun: explaining, explanation; verb: explain; adverb: inexplicably]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: explanare 'to make level, unfold', from planus 'level, flat']

1. to tell someone about something in a way that is clear or easy to understand:
He carefully explained the procedure.
explain (to somebody) why/how/what etc
The librarian will explain how to use the catalogue system.
Let me explain what I mean.
explain that
He explained that it had been a difficult film to make.
explain something to somebody
I explained the situation to my bank manager.
► You explain something to someone: He explained the system to me (NOT explained me the system).

2. to give a reason for something or to be a reason for something:
Wait! I can explain everything.
How can you explain that sort of behaviour?
explain that
She explained that she had been ill.
explain why/how/what etc
I’ll explain why I don’t believe your story.
That still doesn’t explain how he was able to hide the body.

3. explain yourself
a) to tell someone who is angry or upset with you the reasons why you did something:
I’m going to give you five seconds to explain yourself.
b) to say clearly what you mean:
Sorry, I’m not explaining myself very well.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

explain
verb
ADV. in detail I wrote explaining the issues in great detail.
fully The reasons for the accident have not been fully explained.
adequately, properly, satisfactorily | partly This partly explains why he was so late.
briefly | easily, readily This phenomenon can be easily explained.
clearly | carefully | patiently The doctor explained patiently what the treatment would be.
earnestly | concisely, succinctly, tersely The general principles behind the method used are explained clearly and concisely. ‘We've already paid,’ I explained tersely.
awkwardly, lamely | breathlessly, excitedly
VERB + EXPLAIN be able/unable to, can/could I know I'm late, but I can explain why.
attempt to, seek to, try to | help (to) | purport to Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.
be difficult to, be hard to It's difficult to explain exactly how the system works.
hasten to She saw his quick frown and hastened to explain.
let sb Let me explain what I mean.
PREP. about She tried to explain about her fears and anxieties.
to She explained the plan to me very carefully.
PHRASES explain everything I've got a letter here which explains everything.
go a long way/some way towards explaining sth This goes some way towards explaining the hostility between the two groups.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

explain
verb
BAD: Your teachers will explain you where you are going to stay.
GOOD: Your teachers will explain to you where you are going to stay.

Usage Note:
If you mention a person after explain , you always use to : 'Let me explain the problem (to you) again.' 'She then explained (to me) how I could make my own shampoo.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

explain to give someone the information they need to understand something:
She explained how to use the software.
Doctors usually explain the risks of the treatment to patients.
tell to explain something. People often use tell instead of explain in everyday conversation:
He told me how to get to his house.
The book tells you how to improve your health through diet.
show to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you:
Ellen showed me how to work the coffee maker.
demonstrate /ˈdemənstreɪt/ to explain to someone how to do something by doing it while they watch you, especially when it is part of your job:
The cabin crew demonstrated the safety procedures to the passengers.
A qualified instructor will demonstrate how to use the equipment properly.
go through something to explain something carefully, especially one step at a time:
Mrs. Riddell went through the homework assignment.
set out something to explain a series of ideas, reasons or opinions in an organized way in writing or in a speech:
In his speech, he intended to set out the party’s policies on education.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

explain
to give an explanation for something wrong that you may have done
The director was forced to explain himself after the accounting problems were discovered.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲