pattern

Verbs of Verbal Action - Verbs for Explanations

Here you will learn some English verbs referring to explanations such as "clarify", "define", and "elaborate".

Review

Flashcards

Forms

Spelling

Quiz

Start learning
Categorized English Verbs of Verbal Action
to explain

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

Ex: He explained the plot of the movie to his friend who hadn't seen it. 
Close
Sign in
to clarify

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

Ex: The professor clarified the complex concept by giving real-life examples. 
Close
Sign in
to clear up

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

Ex: The professor took the time to clear up any misunderstandings about the assignment during office hours. 
Close
Sign in
to spell out

to clearly and explicitly explain something

Ex: She spelled the instructions out for the team, providing step-by-step details on how to complete the task. 
Close
Sign in
to simplify

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

Ex: The teacher simplified the math problem to help the students grasp the concept. 
Close
Sign in
to define
to define
[Verb]

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

Ex: The teacher regularly defines unfamiliar words for the students in the class. 
Close
Sign in
to elaborate

to give more information to make the understanding more complete

Ex: The author elaborated on the historical context to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the events. 
Close
Sign in
to expand on

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

Ex: Can you please expand on your proposal so that we have a clearer understanding of your ideas? 
Close
Sign in
to summarize

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

Ex: After reading the lengthy report, she asked her colleague to summarize the main findings for her. 
Close
Sign in
to sum up
to sum up
[Verb]

to briefly state the most important parts or facts of something

Ex: To save time, the presenter decided to sum the discussion up quickly. 
Close
Sign in
to outline

to give a brief description of something excluding the details

Ex: Before writing the essay, the student outlined the main ideas to organize the structure. 
Close
Sign in
to paraphrase

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

Ex: The student paraphrased the paragraph to demonstrate a clear understanding of the concept. 
Close
Sign in
to encapsulate

to represent something in a short and brief manner

Ex: In her final remarks, the speaker encapsulated the key themes of the conference. 
Close
Sign in
to recap
to recap
[Verb]

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

Ex: At the end of the meeting, the manager recapped the main decisions and action items. 
Close
Sign in
to specify

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

Ex: In the meeting agenda, please specify the topics you'd like to discuss. 
Close
Sign in
to depict
to depict
[Verb]

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

Ex: The artist’s work often depicts scenes from daily life in a vibrant style. 
Close
Sign in
to portray

to describe something or someone through words

Ex: The author portrays the protagonist as a courageous and determined individual. 
Close
Sign in
to describe

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

Ex: He used metaphors to describe the power of nature in his poem. 
Close
Sign in
to profile

to provide a detailed description of someone or something

Ex: The magazine decided to profile the successful entrepreneur, delving into his journey and achievements. 
Close
Sign in
to demonstrate

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

Ex: The biologist demonstrated the process of photosynthesis using a leaf and a light source. 
Close
Sign in
to detail
to detail
[Verb]

to explain something thoroughly and with specific information

Ex: In the report, the researcher detailed the methodology used in the experiment, ensuring transparency and reproducibility. 
Close
Sign in
to characterize

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

Ex: The historian characterized the Renaissance period as a time of cultural rebirth and artistic innovation. 
Close
Sign in
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app