explain

Meanings

Verb

make plain and comprehensible
- "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
- "Her recent divorce may explain her reluctance to date again"
To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
To give the reason for, justification for, or cause of.
To make flat, smooth out.
To unfold or make visible.
To make something plain or intelligible.

Origin / Etymology

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

Synonyms

clarify, describe, direct, disclose, elaborate, elucidate, excuse, explain, explicate, expound, illustrate, inform, instruct, justify, recce, specify, teach, unravel, untangle

Antonyms

obscure

Scrabble Score: 16

explain is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
explain is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
explain is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

explain is a valid Words With Friends word