Skip to main content

elaborate onto add more details, information, or explanation to something that has already been said or written

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to add more details, information, or explanation to something that has already been said or written

Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈlæbəreɪt ɑn/

Example Sentences

  • My boss asked me to elaborate on why I was late, but 'I was chasing a cat that stole my sandwich' didn't seem like enough detail for him.
  • The teacher asked Sarah to elaborate on her science project about volcanoes.
  • When the reporter asked the politician to elaborate on his tax policy, he suddenly remembered he had an urgent dentist appointment.

elaborate on

VERB

[/ɪˈlæbəreɪt ɑn/]

to add more details, information, or explanation to something that has already been said or written

Asked about the tiny gray pebble, the crazy scientist pulled a heavy lever to violently blast a massive 3D hologram, aggressively elaborating on its origin.
💡 Concept

Asked about the tiny gray pebble, the crazy scientist pulled a heavy lever to violently blast a massive 3D hologram, aggressively elaborating on its origin.

E(out) + LABOR(work/sweat) + ON(table) — to elaborate on a plan is to violently pour your physical labor out to carve a massive, detailed map directly ON the table.
🧠 Mnemonic

E(out) + LABOR(work/sweat) + ON(table) — to elaborate on a plan is to violently pour your physical labor out to carve a massive, detailed map directly ON the table.

Seeing the boss lazily yawn, the desperate worker revealed the massive diagram he had drawn and violently slammed the table to elaborate on his great idea.
🎵 Rhyme

Seeing the boss lazily yawn, the desperate worker revealed the massive diagram he had drawn and violently slammed the table to elaborate on his great idea.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɪˈlæbəreɪt ɑn/
🇬🇧 UK/ɪˈlæbəreɪt ɒn/

🌳Etymology

Prefixe--
Rootlabor
Suffix--ate

🎵Rhyme

collaboratecelebratedemonstrate
collaborate
celebrate
demonstrate

🔗Collocations

elaborate on details
elaborate on the plan
elaborate on your point
elaborate on the proposal
elaborate on the findings
refuse to elaborate on
further elaborate on

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My boss asked me to elaborate on why I was late, but 'I was chasing a cat that stole my sandwich' didn't seem like enough detail for him.

The teacher asked Sarah to elaborate on her science project about volcanoes.

😄 Fun example

When the reporter asked the politician to elaborate on his tax policy, he suddenly remembered he had an urgent dentist appointment.

Could you elaborate on the benefits of this new software system?

📚Related Words

Synonyms

expand onexplain furtherdevelopdetailclarify

Antonyms

summarizecondenseabbreviate

Related

explanationdetailspecificationdescriptionclarification

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.