elaborate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'elaborate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has been made or expressed in great detail or with great care. For example, "The chef prepared an elaborate meal for the special occasion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He refused to elaborate.

The New York Times

Setting up an elaborate Berber camp in the July heat each day looked like hard work but Bobo laughed it off: "We are used to the desert.

The Guardian - Travel

A few years ago when I couldn't sleep, I'd lie there constructing an elaborate fantasy life for myself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Asked to elaborate, he said: "We found them to be quite comical on account of how they were dressed and the excessive jewellery they were wearing".

The Guardian

And all recipients of public money should be banned from using elaborate structures to avoid paying tax.

The Guardian - Opinion

It kicks off in at 2am on New Year's Day, seeing in the first light with a colourful (and very loud) parade, featuring dancers peacocking about in elaborate costumes, moving to the rhythm of goatskin drums, cowbells and whistles.

The Guardian - Travel

He did not elaborate on the specific steps Japan would take.

The Guardian

Long-distance buses in Ethiopia mostly leave at five or six o'clock in the morning (which confusingly is 11 or 12 o'clock Ethiopian time) and for the price of a ticket, government-run buses throw in an elaborate pre-departure ritual including a procession around the bus, led by the conductor.

The Guardian - Travel

Where there were once elaborate homes, ski lodges, spas, restaurants and boutique hotels, there are now just gigantic scraped rectangles of red earth, with the great shadows of charred and crippled trees falling across them.

The Guardian

Rising up out of the plains southwest of Padua, these conical hills or colli were a popular retreat for the nobles and bishops of Venice, who built elaborate villas and palazzi here.

The Guardian - Travel

According to Steingarten, one November Thompson provided his readers with a turkey recipe so elaborate it passed into mythology, cooks speaking of it in such reverent tones it was as if they'd joined a cult.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elaborate" when you want to convey that something is complex, detailed, or developed with great care. For instance, "The museum showcased an elaborate tapestry depicting historical events."

Common error

Avoid using "elaborate" when a simpler, more direct explanation suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound pretentious or unnecessarily complex. Choose clarity over excessive detail when the situation allows.

Linguistic Context

The word "elaborate" primarily functions as a verb, meaning to expand on something in detail, as illustrated by Ludwig examples like, "Asked to elaborate, he said..." It also functions as an adjective describing something complex and detailed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Arts

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elaborate" functions both as a verb, meaning to expand on something with detail, and as an adjective, describing something complex. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage. Predominantly found in news, travel, and opinion contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal tone. When writing, use "elaborate" to add depth and complexity, but avoid overusing it in situations where simplicity suffices. Alternatives such as "go into detail" or "flesh out" may be more appropriate depending on the desired level of formality and detail.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go into detail

Focuses on providing a thorough and comprehensive explanation or description.

expand upon

Suggests building upon an existing idea or statement to provide greater clarity or depth.

flesh out

Implies adding more substance and detail to something that is initially basic or incomplete.

add detail

Emphasizes the act of incorporating specific pieces of information to enrich the overall picture.

provide specifics

Stresses the importance of offering concrete and precise information to support a claim or explanation.

illustrate

Uses examples or visual aids to clarify and provide a more vivid understanding of a concept.

build upon

Focuses on extending an idea.

spell out

Indicates a need to explain something very clearly and explicitly, leaving no room for ambiguity.

delineate

Focuses on describing something precisely and in detail, often to distinguish it from other things.

magnify

Highlighting and expanding on a particular aspect or detail to draw greater attention to it.

FAQs

How can I use "elaborate" in a sentence?

You can use "elaborate" as a verb to mean to add more detail or explanation, as in, "Could you "elaborate" on your previous statement?" It can also be used as an adjective to describe something detailed and complex, such as "an "elaborate" design".

What are some alternatives to the word "elaborate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "go into detail", "flesh out", or "expand upon" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to "elaborate" or "simplify" an explanation?

It depends on the audience and the complexity of the topic. "Elaborating" is suitable when more detail is needed for clarity. Simplifying is better when the goal is to provide a basic understanding quickly.

What's the difference between "elaborate" and "detailed"?

"Elaborate" suggests a high degree of complexity and development, whereas "detailed" simply means including many specific facts or features. Something "detailed" might not necessarily be complex, but something "elaborate" usually is.