How to Use explain in a Sentence

explain

verb
Definition of explainnext
Synonyms for explainnext
  • Give me a chance to explain.
  • The professor explained the poem to the class.
  • I need a lawyer to explain this contract to me.
  • Scientists could not explain the strange lights in the sky.
  • We asked him to explain his reasons to us.
  • She explained how the machine worked.
  • I don't know how to explain the dog's strange behavior.
  • That explains why we were so far behind schedule.
  • I explained to them that I would be available by phone.
  • Can you explain why no one was informed earlier?
  • Bjork explains more about the cause and shares a brief snippet of the song here.
    — Spin Staff, Spin, 6 Oct. 2023
  • Lenz explained why the group appealed to her at the time.
    — Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2024
  • It’s those two words that best explain what makes Meet the Press, Meet the Press.
    — Chuck Todd, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2022
  • That helps explain why the Dolphins had a 1-6 record in those games.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2024
  • Swenor and Collins explain that while kids may not have changed, the world around them sure has.
    — Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 5 May 2023
  • In the first look released Friday, the Lowes sat down to explain their roles on the show.
    — Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
  • The best way to explain it is my life is not so dark anymore.
    — Casey Parks, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023
  • This is why it is often called the silent killer, explained Mehta.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 28 Sep. 2023
  • The affidavit does not give a cause of death or explain how the girls were killed.
    — Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Nov. 2022
  • The goal, Chung explained, is to build a toy that seems to feel, see, and hear, and to show emotions that change over time.
    — Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024
  • That may explain our slow to return to work, study shows.
    — Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 23 Nov. 2022
  • But first, the co-hosts explained all the good parts of having a full house for the holiday.
    — Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
  • A lot of that can be explained by the unique aspects of our health care system.
    — Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024
  • This would explain those bigger groups that show up to bars and nurse one or two drinks.
    — Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Bell gave him a call on Monday, and Busch wanted to explain his point of view.
    — Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2024
  • Braun explained the decision to sit out the game against K-State.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024
  • But that wasn't always the plan for the characters, Cox explained in her post.
    — Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023
  • The Miller case highlights the costs of the justices’ refusal to explain themselves.
    — Steve Vladeck, CNN, 26 Sep. 2022
  • This might explain why groups of three can notoriously lead to exclusion, tension, and the kind of platonic breakups that convince you to swear off trios forever.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The company also explained the ETF’s illiquid products won’t be exclusively tied to Apollo and that its net asset value will be calculated daily.
    — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'explain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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