{
    "term": "explain",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "explain",
            "heSheIt": "explains"
        },
        "pastSimple": "explained",
        "pastParticiple": "explained",
        "ingForm": "explaining"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to tell somebody about something in a way that makes it easy to understand",
            "sensetop": "explain (something)explain (something) to somebodyexplain that…explain who, how, etc…explain to somebody who, how, etc…+ speechit is explained that…",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was trying to **explain the difference** between sarcasm and irony.",
                    "contextForm": "explain (something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "First, I'll explain the rules of the game."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The theory is not **explained in detail**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Let me explain!’ he added helpfully."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was difficult to explain the concept to beginners.",
                    "contextForm": "explain (something) to somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I explained that an ambulance would be coming soon.",
                    "contextForm": "explain that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He explained who each person in the photo was.",
                    "contextForm": "explain who, how, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Can you explain how this machine works?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She explained to the children exactly what to do in an emergency.",
                    "contextForm": "explain to somebody who, how, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘It works like this,’ she explained.",
                    "contextForm": "+ speech"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was explained that attendance was compulsory.",
                    "contextForm": "it is explained that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She saw his quick frown and hastened to explain."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'll explain the system in greater detail next time."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The general principles behind the method used are explained clearly and concisely."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is a book which seeks to explain the birth of Greek tragedy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I tried to explain the problem to the technician."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She explained the plan to me very carefully."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's difficult to explain exactly how the system works."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Let me explain what I mean."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["in detail", "fully", "adequately"],
                "verb + explain": ["be able to", "be unable to", "can"],
                "preposition": ["about", "to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "explain everything",
                    "go a long way, some way, etc. towards/​toward explaining something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to give a reason, or be a reason, for something",
            "sensetop": "explain that…explain why, how, etc…explain somethingexplain something to somebody+ speech",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I tried to explain but they wouldn't listen."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Alex explained that his car had broken down.",
                    "contextForm": "explain that…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Well, that doesn't explain why you didn't phone.",
                    "contextForm": "explain why, how, etc…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Please **explain your reasons**.",
                    "contextForm": "explain something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Oh well then, that **explains it** *(= I understand now why something happened)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The phenomenon is partly **explained by the fact** that global temperatures are rising."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Slow growth in the economy is to be **explained in terms of** a lack of demand."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The government now has to explain its decision to the public.",
                    "contextForm": "explain something to somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘It was like this,’ she explained.",
                    "contextForm": "+ speech"
                },
                {
                    "text": "You're going to **have some explaining to do** when your parents get home!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's no need to explain. We understand."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was unable to explain her behaviour."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The official explained patiently that our documents were not valid."
                },
                {
                    "text": "scientific findings that help explain the origins of the universe"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I can explain everything! I was just trying to help her with her homework!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He explained awkwardly that he had not slept at his own home that night."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This partly explains why he was so late."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This goes some way towards explaining the hostility between the two groups."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The reasons for the accident have not been fully explained."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I know I'm late, but I can explain why."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I have a letter here which explains everything."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["in detail", "fully", "adequately"],
                "verb + explain": ["be able to", "be unable to", "can"],
                "preposition": ["about", "to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "explain everything",
                    "go a long way, some way, etc. towards/​toward explaining something"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to give somebody reasons for your behaviour, especially when they are angry or upset because of it",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I really don't see why I should have to explain myself to you."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to say what you mean in a clear way",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Could you explain yourself a little more—I didn't understand."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪn/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explain__gb_3.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪnz/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explains__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪnd/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explained__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explaining__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪn/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explain__us_3.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪnz/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explains__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪnd/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explained__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "ex/explain/explaining__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Latin explanare, based on planus ‘plain’."
}