explain, expound, explicate, elucidate, interpret mean to make something clear or understandable. explain implies a making plain or intelligible what is not immediately obvious or entirely known.

EXPLAIN definition: to make plain or clear; render understandable or intelligible. See examples of explain used in a sentence.

EXPLAIN definition: 1. to make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information about it: 2…. Learn more.

Definition of explain verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Explain, elucidate, expound, interpret imply making the meaning of something clear or understandable. To explain is to make plain, clear, or intelligible something that is not known or understood: to explain …

explain If you explain something, you give details about it so that it can be understood. The head teacher should be able to explain the school's teaching policy. You say that you explain something to …

There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb explain, five of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Explain definition: To make plain or comprehensible.

Jan 22, 2026 · explain (third-person singular simple present explains, present participle explaining, simple past and past participle explained) (transitive) To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear …

Explain is the most general of these words, and means to make plain, clear, and intelligible. Expound is used of elaborate, formal, or methodical explanation: as, to expound a text, the law, the philosophy of …