MEANING
1. to develop an idea or explanation by adding relevant detail
2. Complex, carefully developed, or furnished with many details.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- elaborate on a claim
- elaborate an explanation
- elaborate a theory
On the page
The author elaborates on the distinction in the next section.
Could you elaborate on the proposed mechanism?
The chapter elaborates an account of institutional change.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- elaborate / elaborates
- Past tense
- elaborated
- Past participle
- elaborated
- Present participle
- elaborating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- elaborate / elaborates
- Present continuous
- am/is/are elaborating
- Present perfect
- have/has elaborated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been elaborating
- Past
- elaborated
- Past continuous
- was/were elaborating
- Past perfect
- had elaborated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been elaborating
- Future
- will elaborate / elaborates
- Future continuous
- will be elaborating
- Future perfect
- will have elaborated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been elaborating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary curation section: Academic. Use elaborate on a point or elaborate an account. Detail should clarify, not merely lengthen the text. The adjective has a different pronunciation. elaborate; elaborates; elaborated; elaborated; elaborating. Related noun: elaboration.
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