clarify — to make something clearer or easier to understand by giving more details or a simpler explanation
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make something clearer or easier to understand by giving more details or a simpler explanation
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈklærəˌfaɪ/
Example Sentences
- When my mom asked me to clean my room 'properly', I had to clarify whether that included under the bed - turns out it did!
- The teacher had to clarify the homework instructions three times because half the class thought 'write an essay' meant 'copy from Wikipedia'.
- The government issued a statement to clarify its position on the new education policy.
clarify
VERB[/ˈklærəˌfaɪ/]
to make something clearer or easier to understand by giving more details or a simpler explanation
The teacher clarified the difficult math problem with a simple example.
The scientist clarified the results before sharing them with the team. (CLARIFY = CLEAR + IFY → IFY means "make.")
The professor clarified the theory, simplified the explanation, and verified every fact.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle French 'clarifier', derived from Latin 'clarificare', combining 'clarus' (clear, bright) and 'facere' (to make). The word entered English in the 14th century through Norman French influence.
Breakdown
clar- (clear, from Latin 'clarus') + -ify (to make, from Latin '-ficare') = clarify (to make clear)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
“Let me clarify the situation for everyone.”
“I need to clarify one important point.”
“Please clarify your position on this matter.”
“These examples will help clarify the concept.”
“I would like to further clarify my statement.”
📝Examples
“When my mom asked me to clean my room 'properly', I had to clarify whether that included under the bed - turns out it did!”
“The teacher had to clarify the homework instructions three times because half the class thought 'write an essay' meant 'copy from Wikipedia'.”
“The government issued a statement to clarify its position on the new education policy.”
“Scientists conducted additional experiments to clarify the relationship between sleep and memory.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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