Verbs for Explanations · Verbs: Verbal Action

to clearly and explicitly explain something

"Spell out the instructions clearly."

"The instructions clearly spell out exactly what you need to do to assemble the furniture correctly without any mistakes."

to make something easier or less complex to understand, do, etc.

"Simplify the instructions for children."

"The new software update is designed to simplify the user experience by removing unnecessary features and menus."

to give more information to make the understanding more complete

"Can you elaborate on your answer?"

"The witness was asked to elaborate on her testimony and provide more specific details about what she had actually seen."

to provide more details, information, or a more comprehensive explanation about a particular topic or idea

"Please expand on your main argument."

"The professor asked the student to expand on his answer because the first response was too short and vague."

to give a short and simplified version that covers the main points of something

"Summarize the article in three sentences."

"The student was asked to summarize the three hundred page novel in just two paragraphs for the class assignment."

to express the meaning of something written or spoken with a different choice of words

"Paraphrase the passage in your own words."

"When writing research papers you must paraphrase your sources rather than copying them directly to avoid plagiarism."

to represent something in a short and brief manner

"The quote encapsulates his philosophy perfectly."

"The final scene of the movie perfectly encapsulates the film's central theme about the importance of love and forgiveness."

to give a brief summary, especially by reviewing key points or events

"Let me recap today's main points."

"Let me recap the main points of the meeting for those who arrived late or missed the beginning."

to give details about someone or something to say what they are like

"Describe the suspect to the police."

"Can you describe the suspect to the police officer including details about his height and clothing?"

to provide a detailed description of someone or something

"The magazine profiles famous entrepreneurs monthly."

"The magazine plans to profile the young entrepreneur in next month's issue as a rising star in the tech industry."

to make something clear and easy to understand by giving more information about it

"Please explain the rules clearly."

"The teacher used simple diagrams to explain the complex scientific concept to the confused students."

to make something clear and easy to understand by explaining it more

"Let me clarify my previous statement."

"Let me clarify my previous statement because I think some people may have misunderstood what I meant."

to explain or resolve confusion, making something easier to understand or less ambiguous

"Let me clear it up."

"The detective's detailed explanation helped to clear up the confusing sequence of events that led to the crime."

to say the meaning of an expression or word, particularly in a dictionary

"Can you define this word?"

"The dictionary helps define words clearly but sometimes the definitions can be just as confusing as the words themselves."

to briefly state the most important parts or facts of something

"Let's sum up."

"To sum up, the report highlights the urgent need for systemic changes to address the ongoing environmental crisis."

to give a brief description of something excluding the details

"He outlines the main points clearly."

"The professor asked the students to outline their essays before writing the full draft to organize their ideas clearly."

to clearly define or state specific details, characteristics, or requirements

"Please specify your preferred delivery date."

"The contract specifies that all payments must be made within thirty days of the invoice date."

to describe a specific subject, scene, person, etc.

"The painting depicts a rural scene."

"The mural depicts scenes from the town's history including the great fire and subsequent rebuilding efforts."

to describe something or someone through words

"She will portray the queen."

"The biography aims to accurately portray the complex life and reign of the influential historical figure."

to explain something by providing examples, doing experiments, etc.

"He will demonstrate the machine."

"The scientist will demonstrate the effectiveness of the new vaccine through a series of controlled laboratory experiments."

to explain something thoroughly and with specific information

"The report details the accident causes."

"The report details the causes of the accident and recommends specific measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring."

to describe the qualities of someone or something in a certain manner

"How would you characterize his leadership style?"

"The critic characterized the film as a slow moving drama with excellent acting but a weak and predictable plot."