explain
explain
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "explain" is /ɪkˈspleɪn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ɪk:
/ɪ/: Near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in "kit")
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
ˈspleɪn:
/s/: Voiceless alveolar fricative
/p/: Voiceless bilabial stop
/l/: Alveolar lateral approximant
/eɪ/: Diphthong (as in "face")
/n/: Alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Explain" is primarily a verb. It has several related forms that serve as other parts of speech.
Verb Forms:
Base Form: explain (e.g., "Please explain the concept.")
Third-person singular present: explains (e.g., "She explains things clearly.")
Present participle: explaining (e.g., "He is explaining the rules.")
Past tense: explained (e.g., "They explained their decision.")
Past participle: explained (e.g., "The problem was explained thoroughly.")
Related Forms:
Noun: explanation (e.g., "His explanation was confusing.")
Adjective: explanatory (e.g., "An explanatory note.")
Adjective: explicable (e.g., "His behavior was not explicable.")
Adverb: explicably (e.g., "The strange event occurred explicably.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb Definitions
To make (an idea, situation, or problem) clear to someone by describing it in more detail or revealing relevant facts or ideas.
Synonyms: Clarify, elaborate, elucidate, expound, interpret, describe, illustrate
Antonyms: Confuse, obscure, obfuscate, mystify, perplex
To account for or justify (something); to give a reason or cause for.
Synonyms: Justify, rationalize, account for, vindicate, defend, validate
Antonyms: Contradict, disprove, refute, deny
Examples of Use
Books
Non-fiction: In scientific texts, authors frequently use "explain" to clarify complex concepts. For instance, in Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, the author often aims to "explain the rise of Homo sapiens to global dominance" (Harper, February 2015).
Fiction: While less direct, characters in novels often "explain" their motivations or a plot point. For example, a detective might "explain the killer's motive" to the assembled suspects.
Newspapers
News Articles: Journalists constantly use "explain" to provide context and understanding to events. A headline might read, "Economists explain the recent inflation surge" (The New York Times, June 2024). An article could then go on to "explain the government's new policy initiatives."
Editorials/Opinion Pieces: Columnists frequently "explain" their viewpoints or "explain why a certain political decision was made."
Online Publications
Blogs and Articles: Tech blogs often "explain how a new gadget works" or "explain the latest software update." Food blogs might "explain the science behind baking a perfect cake."
Educational Websites: Websites like Khan Academy or Wikipedia exist to "explain a wide range of subjects," from "basic algebra to complex historical events."
Social Media: Influencers and content creators often use their platforms to "explain beauty routines," "explain fitness techniques," or "explain current events in an accessible way."
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Documentaries: The narrator in a documentary frequently "explains historical events," "explains scientific phenomena," or "explains the behaviors of animals in their natural habitat."
Podcasts: Hosts and guests on informational podcasts will often "explain complex topics" or "explain their professional experiences." For instance, a true-crime podcast might "explain the timeline of a particular case."
Video Games: Tutorials in video games "explain game mechanics" or "explain the lore of the game world." Characters might also "explain their mission objectives" to the player.
Stand-up Comedy: Comedians often use "explain" ironically or to set up a joke, as in, "Let me explain why that's funny..."
TV Shows: In a medical drama, a doctor might "explain a patient's diagnosis" to their family. In a crime show, a detective might "explain the evidence to their team."
General Public Discourse
Conversations: In everyday conversations, people constantly ask others to "explain something they don't understand." For example, "Can you explain what you mean by that?" or "I need you to explain why you were late."
Presentations/Lectures: Speakers commonly "explain concepts" to their audience. A professor might "explain the theories of quantum physics" during a lecture.
Customer Service: Representatives often have to "explain billing discrepancies" or "explain product features" to customers.
Parenting: Parents frequently have to "explain rules," "explain consequences," or "explain the world around them" to their children.
10 Quotes Using Explain
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." (Albert Einstein)
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled with fear, has also given rise to religion. It was the fear of the unknown, and a yearning to explain." (Albert Einstein)
"I cannot explain it to you, but I can feel it for you." (Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass)
"Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it." (Epictetus)
"Art does not explain, it simply presents." (William Morris)
"Science does not explain anything; it is a way to not be deceived." (Richard Feynman)
"You don't understand anything until you learn to explain it to your grandchildren." (African Proverb)
"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism; the way you play it is free will. You cannot explain the whole game from either assumption." (Jawaharlal Nehru)
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. We are not afraid to explain our position. We are afraid to be misunderstood." (Bertrand Russell)
"If I had to explain to a man who had never seen a horse what a horse was, I would simply show him a horse." (Ludwig Wittgenstein)
Etymology
The word "explain" comes from the Latin verb "explanare," which means "to flatten out" or "to spread out." Imagine unrolling a scroll or unfolding a map – that's the core idea. Over time, this physical act of "spreading out" information evolved to mean "making clear" or "making understandable."
The first known use of "explain" in English, with the meaning of "to make plain or intelligible," dates back to the late 14th century. It began appearing in texts to describe the act of clarifying something that was previously obscure or complex, much like smoothing out wrinkles to reveal what's underneath.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Explain
Explain yourself: Demanding an explanation for someone's actions or words, often implying disapproval. "You need to explain yourself after that outburst."
Explain away: To provide reasons or excuses for something, often to diminish its negative impact or to justify it. "He tried to explain away his rude comments as a joke."
Explain it to me like I'm five: A request for a very simple, non-technical explanation of a complex topic. "Can you explain it to me like I'm five how the internet works?"
To explain in detail: To provide a thorough and comprehensive account of something. "The architect proceeded to explain in detail the building's design."
Explain the unexplainable: To attempt to rationalize or make sense of something that defies logic or understanding.
Explain the context: To provide the background information necessary to understand a situation or statement.
Explain the reasoning: To clarify the logical thought process behind a decision or conclusion.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of explain from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
