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expound

[ik-spound] / ɪkˈspaʊnd /


Usage

What are other ways to say expound? To expound is to give a methodical, detailed, scholarly explanation of something, usually Scriptures, doctrines, or philosophy: to expound the doctrine of free will. To explain is to make plain, clear, or intelligible something that is not known or understood: to explain a theory or a problem. To elucidate is to throw light on what before was dark and obscure, usually by illustration and commentary and sometimes by elaborate explanation: They asked him to elucidate his statement. To interpret is to give the meaning of something by paraphrase, by translation, or by an explanation based on personal opinion: to interpret a poem or a symbol.

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:

Her resignation, however, afforded her the freedom to expound the political ideas that are expected to feature heavily in Burnham's administration.

From BBC Jul. 20, 2026

It is common for justices to spar in their written opinions, and they sometimes expound on their legal disagreements in speeches or interviews.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 15, 2026

The company is set to expound on the results at Qubits 2026, a two-day conference at the end of January.

From Barron's Jan. 6, 2026

Madison that "it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases must, of necessity, expound and interpret the rule."

From Salon Feb. 12, 2025

He could expound on nearly any subject in class until the teacher had to ask him to stop, and if he’d ever made less than a hundred on a test, I wasn’t aware of it.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Each of Ms. Pearsall’s chapters expounds on a word from the Declaration of Independence—such as “liberty,” “honor” and “happiness”—as a value that “prompted behavior among all kinds of people.”

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 26, 2026

Seneca, a prominent writer of tragedies and advisor to Emperor Nero, expounds on resilience and the confrontation of adversity in his work "Letters From a Stoic."

From Salon Jan. 30, 2024

“Yeah I get nerdy excited about it,” says Clarke as she expounds on the magic that happens both on and behind the stage.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 5, 2023

Lopez Obrador, who expounds on the virtues of a non-interventionist foreign policy, said his plan involves the creation of a "mediation committee" that includes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.N.

From Reuters Sep. 12, 2022

He never expounds on education theory or education reform.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

In those meetings, he expounded on his pyramid of success, from team-building lessons to attention to detail.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 5, 2026

The question of whether Native Americans were subject to United States governance was further expounded upon in 1886, with the Supreme Court ruling in United States v.

From Salon Jan. 25, 2025

She has not expounded on the comment, but has appeared to suggest that fracking can continue because other efforts can help clean up or preserve the environment.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 10, 2024

In interviews, executives expounded, usually with significant enthusiasm, on the benefits and drawbacks of the technology.

From New York Times Jan. 18, 2024

Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell

Since then, I’ve spent more than 40 years researching and expounding the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 4, 2025

Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation.

From Salon Nov. 14, 2024

“No,” Servais said, trying to be stubborn before laughing and expounding.

From Seattle Times Mar. 6, 2024

Perhaps Stone surmised that it’s best to keep his mystique alive, as opposed to expounding on his life at great length in the fashion of Barbra Streisand’s “My Name is Barbra.”

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 5, 2023

Failure to contain Pauling might result in a London press conference with Linus expounding peaceful coexistence.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson




Vocabulary lists containing expound


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