explain
make plain and comprehensible
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,244 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 14,681 times across 139,755 chapters — 0.007% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- make plain and comprehensible also: explicate He explained the laws of physics to his students
- define The committee explained their plan for fund-raising to the Dean
- serve as a reason or cause or justification of also: excuse Your need to sleep late does not excuse your late arrival at workHer recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again
explain in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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I cannot explain how it is you speak and breathe.
Piccolissima · Adélaïde de Montgolfier · Chapter 1
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I must explain Audrey, for she in her turn explains Cynthia.
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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But the political events were sufficient to explain any amount of anxiety.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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I want you to explain to me why you won’t exhibit Dorian Gray’s picture.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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I knew, though you didn't explain, that you feared it would interfere with your studies.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1