explain
To make plain, manifest, or intelligibleTo make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
» Please explain how to get there.
Bitte erklären Sie, wie man dorthin gelangt.
Bitte erkläre, wie ich dorthin komme.
Объясните, пожалуйста, как туда добраться.
Объясни, пожалуйста, как туда добраться.
Будьте ласкаві, поясніть, як туди добратися.
Meaning
5 senses(transitive)To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to illustrate the meaning of.
The issue was explained to the governor in detail.
make plain and comprehensible
(transitive)To give the reason for, justification for, or cause of.
erklären
опра́вдыватьoprávdyvatʹ, оправда́тьopravdátʹ
serve as a reason or cause or justification of
(intransitive)To make something plain or intelligible.
She tried to explain but he wouldn’t listen.
erklären, erläutern
объясня́тьobʺjasnjátʹ, объясни́тьobʺjasnítʹ
поя́снюватиpojásnjuvaty, поясня́тиpojasnjáty, поясни́тиpojasnýty
(obsolete)To make flat, smooth out.
(obsolete)To unfold or make visible.
April 14, 1684, John Evelyn, a letter sent to the Royal Society concerning the damage done to his gardens by the preceding winter The horse-chestnut is […] ready to explain its leaf.
Examples
2891 sentencesPlease explain how to get there.
Будьте ласкаві, поясніть, як туди добратися.
ruОбъясните, пожалуйста, как туда добраться.
deBitte erklären Sie, wie man dorthin gelangt.
I explained the process to him.
Я пояснив йому процес.
ruЯ объяснил ему процедуру.
Please explain this sentence to me.
Будь ласка, поясніть мені це речення.
ruПожалуйста, объясни мне эту фразу.
deBitte erklär mir diesen Satz!
Please explain it to me later.
Поясніть, будь ласка, пізніше.
ruПожалуйста, объясните мне это потом.
deErklär es mir bitte später.
I explained the rule to him.
Я пояснив йому правило.
ruЯ объяснил ему правило.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English explanen, from Old French explaner, from Latin explanō (“to flatten, sFrom 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.
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Forms
explains, explaining, explained, explainedSynonyms
23 synonymsAntonyms
1 antonymsWord family
22 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A2Say, tell, speak or talk — Because the lesson uses it
- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
Collocations
12 patterns- explain everything to
- explain everything
- explain the situation
- tried to explain
- explained the rules
- to explain everything
- explain that to
- need to explain
- can't explain
- please explain
- explain this to
- time to explain