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Verbs of Verbal Action - Verbs for Explanations

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

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Categorized English Verbs of Verbal Action
to explain

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

Ex: They explained the process of making a paper airplane step by step .
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to clarify

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

Ex: The author included footnotes to clarify historical references in the book .
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to clear up

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

Ex: I hope this diagram will clear up how the process works .
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to spell out

to clearly and explicitly explain something

Ex: The report spelled out the reasons for the company 's decline , providing a detailed analysis of the contributing factors .
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to simplify

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

Ex: The speaker simplified the technical jargon during the presentation to make it accessible to a broader audience .
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to define
to define
[Verb]

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

Ex: Right now , the professor is actively defining the terms for the lecture .
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to elaborate

to give more information to make the understanding more complete

Ex: The scientist elaborated on the methodology used in the research paper to facilitate replication by other researchers .
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to expand on

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

Ex: The training program aims to help employees expand on their skills and adapt to evolving job responsibilities .
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to summarize

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

Ex: The journalist wrote an article to summarize the events of the protest for the newspaper .
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to sum up
to sum up
[Verb]

to briefly state the most important parts or facts of something

Ex: He summed up the novel 's plot in a few sentences for those who had n't read it .
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to outline

to give a brief description of something excluding the details

Ex: Before starting the research paper , the scientist outlined the hypotheses and methodologies to guide the study .
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to paraphrase

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

Ex: The teacher encouraged students to paraphrase the poem , emphasizing their interpretation of the verses .
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to encapsulate

to represent something in a short and brief manner

Ex: The journalist skillfully encapsulated the day 's events in a concise news article .
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to recap
to recap
[Verb]

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

Ex: The presenter recapped the major milestones achieved during the project 's timeline .
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to specify

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

Ex: The recipe specifies the precise measurements of each ingredient for accurate cooking .
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to depict
to depict
[Verb]

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

Ex: The artist has been depicting various cultural traditions throughout the year .
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to portray

to describe something or someone through words

Ex: In the novel , the author portrays the antagonist as a complex character with both redeeming qualities and moral flaws .
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to describe

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

Ex: The scientist used graphs and charts to describe the research findings .
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to profile

to provide a detailed description of someone or something

Ex: The biographer aimed to profile the life of the renowned scientist , uncovering personal anecdotes and contributions to the field .
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to demonstrate

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

Ex: The environmentalist demonstrated the impact of pollution on water quality by conducting water quality tests .
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to detail
to detail
[Verb]

to explain something thoroughly and with specific information

Ex: During the presentation , the speaker will detail the key features and benefits of the new product line .
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to characterize

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

Ex: The biologist characterized the newly discovered species as a nocturnal predator with sharp claws and keen senses .
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