explain

[/ɪkˈspleɪn/]

verb

explicar

1. to make something clear or easy to understand by describing it in more detail

Can you explain how this machine works?

Você pode explicar como esta máquina funciona?

2. to give a reason or justification for something

She explained her absence from the meeting.

Ela explicou sua ausência da reunião.

3. to account for or clarify the cause of something

This explains why the project failed.

Isso explica por que o projeto fracassou.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

explicar

standard and most common usage

Rio de Janeiro

explicar

standard usage, occasionally 'detalhar' for adding detail

São Paulo

explicar

standard usage in business and formal contexts

Portugal

explicar

standard usage; 'esclarecer' also common for clarification

explain away - justificar ou minimizar algo indesejável

explain oneself - defender sua posição ou ações

that explains it - isso esclarece a situação

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