explain

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ɛkˈspleɪn/ or /ɪkˈspleɪn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form explain

Third-person singular explains

Past tense explained

Past participle explained

Present participle explaining

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you explain something, you talk about it so that somebody can understand it.
   • Synonyms: ask and clarify
   • Antonym: complicate

   Can you explain the difference between the two?

   He explained the difference between the two.

   Explaining my thoughts on the topic was useless.

Related words

• unexplained
• explanation
• explanatory