Explanation
noun
A statement that makes something clear or easy to understand.
He gave a detailed explanation of how the machine works.
Often appears as...
- give an explanation
- detailed explanation
noun
The reason given for why something is done or why something happened.
He could not offer a satisfactory explanation for his behavior.
Often appears as...
- satisfactory explanation
- need an explanation
noun
Teaching someone about a subject, so that they understand it.
The teacher provided an explanation of the theory to her students.
Often appears as...
- provide an explanation
- explanation of the theory
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A statement that makes something clear or easy to understand.
He gave a detailed explanation of how the machine works.
Often appears as...
- give an explanation
- detailed explanation
noun
The reason given for why something is done or why something happened.
He could not offer a satisfactory explanation for his behavior.
Often appears as...
- satisfactory explanation
- need an explanation
noun
Teaching someone about a subject, so that they understand it.
The teacher provided an explanation of the theory to her students.
Often appears as...
- provide an explanation
- explanation of the theory
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Clarity Essential
Use 'explanation' when your purpose is to make a concept or situation completely clear to someone.
Her explanation clarified the complex topic.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Simple
An explanation can be either simple or complex, depending on the subject matter.
His explanation of quantum physics was not simple.
Pro Tip 3/3Ask for Details
If an 'explanation' is not clear, ask for further details or a simpler version.
Could you give a simpler explanation?
Pro Tip 1/3Clarity Essential
Use 'explanation' when your purpose is to make a concept or situation completely clear to someone.
Her explanation clarified the complex topic.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Simple
An explanation can be either simple or complex, depending on the subject matter.
His explanation of quantum physics was not simple.
Pro Tip 3/3Ask for Details
If an 'explanation' is not clear, ask for further details or a simpler version.
Could you give a simpler explanation?
Pro Tip 1/3Clarity Essential
Use 'explanation' when your purpose is to make a concept or situation completely clear to someone.
Her explanation clarified the complex topic.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Simple
An explanation can be either simple or complex, depending on the subject matter.
His explanation of quantum physics was not simple.
Pro Tip 3/3Ask for Details
If an 'explanation' is not clear, ask for further details or a simpler version.
Could you give a simpler explanation?
Compare with
accountclarifydescriptionelucidateenlightenexpositioninterpretjustificationrationale
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Video examples
Why do cats act so...
so one explanation for Grizmo's propensity to reach into containers and openings is that she is compelled by the same curiosity that helped ensure the continuation of her species for millions of years before. In the wild, cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.
Video examples
What causes panic...
and practice concrete tools to exert physical, and in turn mental, control over the sensations and thoughts associated with a panic attack. CBT begins with an explanation of the physiological causes of a panic attack, followed by breath and muscle exercises designed to help people
Video examples
Why do we hiccup? - John...
and are far more common in infants that adults. Their explanation for this involves the uniquely mammalian activity of nursing. The ancient hiccup reflex may have been adapted by mammals to help remove air from the stomach as a sort of glorified burp.
Video examples
David Deutsch: A new way...
and predicts that the seasons will be out of phase in the two hemispheres. If they'd been observed in phase, the theory would have been refuted. But now, the fact that it's also a good explanation, hard to vary, makes the crucial difference.
Video examples
How to fix a broken...
For example, we know from studies of heartbroken people that having a clear understanding of why the relationship ended is really important for our ability to move on. Yet time and again, when we are offered a simple and honest explanation
Video examples
How we think complex...
the current best explanation of how complex cells evolved. There's a lot of evidence that supports this theory, but let's look at three main pieces. First, the chloroplasts and mitochondria in our cells multiply the very same way
Video examples
String theory - Brian...
more dimensions as we see there now that's an explanation about how the universe could have more dimensions than the ones that we see but what about the second question that I asked does the theory actually work when you try to
Video examples
Poetry makes people...
you'd like it to it might even be painful and other times it can be really easy and happen much faster than you expected it but either way it is important and you feel so much better when it's done this explanation for
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
i know of no certain explanation for this startling black and white coloring so like that of a giant panda however whereas the drab brown lemur is active during the day this rough lemur is mostly nocturnal
Video examples
Origins of the Universe...
Multiple scientific theories plus creation myths from around the world have tried to explain its mysterious genesis. However, the most widely accepted explanation is the Big Bang theory.
Video examples
Why do cats act so...
so one explanation for Grizmo's propensity to reach into containers and openings is that she is compelled by the same curiosity that helped ensure the continuation of her species for millions of years before. In the wild, cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.
Video examples
What causes panic...
and practice concrete tools to exert physical, and in turn mental, control over the sensations and thoughts associated with a panic attack. CBT begins with an explanation of the physiological causes of a panic attack, followed by breath and muscle exercises designed to help people
Video examples
Why do we hiccup? - John...
and are far more common in infants that adults. Their explanation for this involves the uniquely mammalian activity of nursing. The ancient hiccup reflex may have been adapted by mammals to help remove air from the stomach as a sort of glorified burp.
Video examples
David Deutsch: A new way...
and predicts that the seasons will be out of phase in the two hemispheres. If they'd been observed in phase, the theory would have been refuted. But now, the fact that it's also a good explanation, hard to vary, makes the crucial difference.
Video examples
How to fix a broken...
For example, we know from studies of heartbroken people that having a clear understanding of why the relationship ended is really important for our ability to move on. Yet time and again, when we are offered a simple and honest explanation
Video examples
How we think complex...
the current best explanation of how complex cells evolved. There's a lot of evidence that supports this theory, but let's look at three main pieces. First, the chloroplasts and mitochondria in our cells multiply the very same way
Video examples
String theory - Brian...
more dimensions as we see there now that's an explanation about how the universe could have more dimensions than the ones that we see but what about the second question that I asked does the theory actually work when you try to
Video examples
Poetry makes people...
you'd like it to it might even be painful and other times it can be really easy and happen much faster than you expected it but either way it is important and you feel so much better when it's done this explanation for
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
i know of no certain explanation for this startling black and white coloring so like that of a giant panda however whereas the drab brown lemur is active during the day this rough lemur is mostly nocturnal
Video examples
Origins of the Universe...
Multiple scientific theories plus creation myths from around the world have tried to explain its mysterious genesis. However, the most widely accepted explanation is the Big Bang theory.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
James Carville
American Lawyer
Some of these people think the universe is five thousand years old, and they say it with a straight face. If somebody had an explanation saying why they thought the earth was five thousand years old, there's only two possible explanations: you're really stupid, or you're really cynical and trying to get really stupid people's votes.
Quote examples
Trudi Canavan
Australian Writer
The first rule of world-building is available physics, which basically means that if you want it to feel real, it has to follow the same rules as this world, from gravity to how human behaviour works. If you have a fantasy element that doesn't obey the laws of physics, make sure that it has a fantasy explanation.
Quote examples
Henry Petroski
American Author
I have always been fascinated by the way things work and how they came to take the form that they did. Writing about these things satisfies my curiosity about the made world while at the same time giving me an opportunity to design a new explanation for the processes that shape it.
Quote examples
Elie Ducommun
Swiss Activist
I leave to the militarists the difficult task of trying to explain to us how these wars have served to shape character or to promote the progress of civilization or to achieve the reign of justice on earth. So far, they have not come forward with the explanation.
Quote examples
Daniel Dennett
American Philosopher
We should get used to the idea that we'll probably never be able to find - and confirm - a good explanation of the ultimate origin of the universe, though I see no reason to believe that we can't press much further on this question than we have managed to date.
Quote examples
James A. Michener
American Novelist
I know the world of opera so intimately: historical sweep, sharply defined characters, not too rational an explanation of what's going on. It's a feast.
Quote examples
Alvaro Enrigue
American Author
I don't believe in inspiration at all. We live in a world that demands explanation. And fiction has the capability to offer explanations for things.
Quote examples
C. S. Lewis
British Writer
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
Quote examples
Paul Ricoeur
French Philosopher
But myth is something else than an explanation of the world, of history, and of destiny.
Quote examples
Meat Loaf
American Musician
There's no explanation for success. Success just comes out of life.
Quote examples
James Carville
American Lawyer
Some of these people think the universe is five thousand years old, and they say it with a straight face. If somebody had an explanation saying why they thought the earth was five thousand years old, there's only two possible explanations: you're really stupid, or you're really cynical and trying to get really stupid people's votes.
Quote examples
Trudi Canavan
Australian Writer
The first rule of world-building is available physics, which basically means that if you want it to feel real, it has to follow the same rules as this world, from gravity to how human behaviour works. If you have a fantasy element that doesn't obey the laws of physics, make sure that it has a fantasy explanation.
Quote examples
Henry Petroski
American Author
I have always been fascinated by the way things work and how they came to take the form that they did. Writing about these things satisfies my curiosity about the made world while at the same time giving me an opportunity to design a new explanation for the processes that shape it.
Quote examples
Elie Ducommun
Swiss Activist
I leave to the militarists the difficult task of trying to explain to us how these wars have served to shape character or to promote the progress of civilization or to achieve the reign of justice on earth. So far, they have not come forward with the explanation.
Quote examples
Daniel Dennett
American Philosopher
We should get used to the idea that we'll probably never be able to find - and confirm - a good explanation of the ultimate origin of the universe, though I see no reason to believe that we can't press much further on this question than we have managed to date.
Quote examples
James A. Michener
American Novelist
I know the world of opera so intimately: historical sweep, sharply defined characters, not too rational an explanation of what's going on. It's a feast.
Quote examples
Alvaro Enrigue
American Author
I don't believe in inspiration at all. We live in a world that demands explanation. And fiction has the capability to offer explanations for things.
Quote examples
C. S. Lewis
British Writer
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
Quote examples
Paul Ricoeur
French Philosopher
But myth is something else than an explanation of the world, of history, and of destiny.
Quote examples
Meat Loaf
American Musician
There's no explanation for success. Success just comes out of life.
Example 1 of 10
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