explain

A2 Topic:Communication

US /ɪkˈspleɪn/ See IPA manual

Freq #684

Meanings

1

verb
To make something clear or easy to understand by describing it.

The teacher explained the laws of physics to her students.
2

verb
To give the reason or cause for something.

Can you explain why you were late this morning?

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something clear or... elucidate expound

2 verb · to give the reason or cause... excuse

More absolve clarify describe direct disclose illustrate inform instruct justify specify teach unravel

Opposites

obscure

Word family

Forms explainedexplainingexplains

Derived forms afore-explaineddexifyexplainabilityexplainableexplaineeexplainerexplainifyexplaininglyexplanificationmansplainmisexplainoverexplain

Related forms explanation explanatorily explanatory

Etymology

From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.

explanen Middle English explaner Old French explanō Latin

View etymology graph ->

External links

# explain

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪkˈspleɪn/
**Frequency rank:** 684

## Meanings
1. To make something clear or easy to understand by describing it.
2. To give the reason or cause for something.

## Examples
- The teacher explained the laws of physics to her students.
- Can you explain why you were late this morning?

## Synonyms
- absolve
- clarify
- describe
- direct
- disclose
- illustrate
- inform
- instruct
- justify
- specify
- teach
- unravel

## Antonyms
- obscure

## Derived Forms
- afore-explained
- dexify
- explainability
- explainable
- explainee
- explainer
- explainify
- explainingly
- explanification
- mansplain
- misexplain
- overexplain

## Related Forms
- explanation
- explanatorily
- explanatory

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: explanen
- Root: explaner
- Root: explanō

## Etymology
From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan.

## AI Etymology
Explain comes from Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, spread out, make plain or clear, explain”), from ex- (“out”) + planō (“to flatten, make level”), from planus (“level, plain”); see plain and plane. Compare esplanade, splanade. Displaced Old English reċċan. In current use, the main senses are “To make something clear or easy to understand by describing it” and “To give the reason or cause for something”.

## Topics
- Communication

markdown

explain

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