Synonyms for explain
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To give the reason for, justification for, or cause of.
Related words
- Word family
- explainability explainable explainer explanation explanatory
- Is a kind of
- communicate
Forms
- Past participle
- explained
e.g. explained → elucidated, illustrated, teld, interpreted…
Example sentences
- tell Please tell me the closest station to your office.
- interpret Translators are responsible people who interpret.
- illustrate Can you illustrate that using a concrete example?
- describe Please describe to me exactly what happened there.
- excuse Excuse me, but where is the men's shoe department?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| explain | rising | |
| tell | rising | |
| interpret | rising | |
| illustrate | steady | |
| elucidate | steady | |
| describe | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- show1, tell1
- 5 letters
- state1, clear1, teach1, solve1, couch1, exply
- 6 letters
- excuse2, define2
- 7 letters
- account2, comment2, warrant2, justify3, clarify3, unravel3, expound2
- 8 letters
- describe2, disclose2, decipher3, untangle3, construe2
- 9 letters
- elaborate3, interpret3, enlighten3, elucidate4, explicate3
- 10 letters
- illustrate3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (excuse2 = 2 syllables).