explains

VERB

make clear; give a reason for

Synonyms

STRONGEST

analyze clarify define demonstrate describe disclose expound illustrate interpret justify point out read resolve reveal solve spell out tell

STRONG

annotate construe decipher diagram elucidate excuse explicate manifest paraphrase rationalize refine render teach translate unfold unravel untangle

WEAK

account for break down bring out clear up get across go into detail make plain put across put in plain English set right throw light upon

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conceal confuse distort hide misrepresent misunderstand question wonder

STRONG

cloud mystify obscure stagnate tangle withhold

WEAK

be vague complicate perplex

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

explains

"For us, it's a little bit hard to use electric," explains Carlos Camarena, a supervisor for a California landscaping company.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Edwards explains his renewed concern about markets in a note to clients dispatched Thursday.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

Combining these two, Caballero infers that shift from a safety premium to an absorption premium explains about 0.75 percentage points of the roughly 2.5 percentage point rise in yields since 2015.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

"I want to know how it happens that information about a grandmother or great-grandmother's environment can affect the phenotype of her grandchild or great-grandchild," she explains.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

That hardly explains what he found so interesting about Bletchley train station at night.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin