Collocations for "explain"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "explain" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
explain
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- explain to [him, your students, your children]
- explain in your own words
- explain in [great, some] detail
- explained at (great) length
- explain with [examples, demonstrations]
- explain the [situation, problem, issue]
- explain the [consequences, risk, possibility] of
- explain the [similarities, differences] between
- explain your [comments, remarks]
- explain your [stance, point of view, opinion]
- (trying to) explain it to [him]
- (how do you) explain such a [difference, gap, loss, drop]
- explain such a [rude, silly, foolish] comment
- explain away the [mistake, error, fault]
- is [difficult, impossible, tricky] to explain away
- [difficult] to explain away [the, this]
- [cannot, can, can only] be explained [scientifically, through, by]
- [which, that] [cannot] be explained
- explained [above, below, here]
- had it explained to me (by)
- needs it (to be) explained to her
- [difficult, impossible, easy] to explain
- [let me, allow me to, I can] explain
- explain [how, why, when, where]
- explain yourself (to)
'explain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
attempt
- describe
- fall
- telephone
- benefit
- expression
- framework
- term
- rule
- pain
- advance
- finished
- why
- still
- plain
- caption
- counsel
- definition
- facet
- lyrics
- rationale
- silence
- importance
- nutshell
- phenomenon
- physician
- premise
- principle
- procedure
- abstract
- briefly
- kindly
- theory
- diagram
- tenet
- scapegoat
- physics
- narrative
- complicated
- selling
- cite
- illustrate