Expound means to explainmake something clear by giving reasons or information or developexpand and add more information to a subject an idea in detail. It is often used in formalsuitable for serious situations rather than casual speech or written English, especially when someone presents a topic carefully and at length.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ɪkˈspaʊnd/
Easy pronunciation: ik-SPOUND (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: expOUND.
Verb meaning to explain something in detail, often in a formal or learned way.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Expound Meaning
to explain something in detail
Part of speech: verb
Definition: add details to an idea or account; explain it clearly and in detail, often in a formal or learned way
Example: The professor expounded his theory during the lecture.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- elaborate — A strong everyday substitute when someone adds detail to an idea.
- flesh out — Works well when making an explanation or plan more complete.
- expand — Can fit this sense, though it is broader and less specific than expound.
- exposit — Close in meaning, but more formal and less common in everyday use.
- expatiate — Means to speak or write at length on a subject; suitable in formal contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Expound
Meaning 2
to state or present something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: state or present something formally
Example: The coach expounded the team's strategy before the match.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- set forth — A good fit when expound means to present an idea or position formally.
- exposit — Can also mean to present or explain a view, though it is formal and uncommon.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Expound Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- elaborate
- flesh out
- expand
- expatiate
- exposit
state or present something formally
- set forth
- exposit
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using expound to mean 'expand physically' instead of 'explain in detail'.
- Assuming every synonym listed for expound fits both senses equally well.
- Choosing very formal words like exposit or expatiate in ordinary conversation when simpler words would sound more natural.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does expound mean?
Expound means to explain something in detail, usually in a clear and formal way.
What is a simple synonym for expound?
Elaborate is one of the simplest and most natural synonyms.
Is expound the same as explain?
They are close, but expound usually suggests a fuller, more detailed explanation.
Can expound mean 'state'?
Yes. In some formal contexts, expound can mean to state or present an idea or position clearly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
