elaborate (on)

Definition of elaborate (on)next
1
as in to exaggerate
to add to the interest of by including made-up details my friend tends to elaborate on his hiking experiences, turning an ordinary walk in the woods into a hair-raising adventure

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2
as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail the candidate for governor refused to elaborate on how she would balance the state's budget

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate (on)
Verb
  • Allegations that are now spreading online could be misinterpreting records or exaggerating minor issues — or could be exposing actual fraudulent activity.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
  • For instance, Venus opposing Jupiter retrograde can exaggerate desires or emotional spending, while the sun, Mars and Mercury opposing Jupiter can result in overextension or impulsive decision-making.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Coming off two straight nine-win seasons, Dykes has seen enough confirmation on the field that TCU has plenty of talent already inside the building; most of it just needs to continue to develop.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Israeli attacks weakened Iran’s regional armed proxy groups such as Hamas and Hezbollahwhile US strikes dealt significant damage to the country’s nuclear program, which the government spent billions to develop.
    Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Late in the game, Jordan Davison scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down to pad the final margin.
    Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Simons sat for the first six minutes of the second half, watching as Payton Pritchard padded Boston’s lead with a pair of threes and an and-one jumper.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Flywing also plans to expand the competitive side of the platform.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Neutrality allowed the nation to build strength, expand westward, and avoid the ideological contagions sweeping the continent.
    Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Online courses are ubiquitous now in the remote era and, for the right candidate, can be the ideal way to supplement your income without having to sacrifice your full-time work schedule.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • On the other hand, exercise—especially via the leg muscles—can supplement mental activity in a meaningful way.
    Desireé Oostland, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Elaborate (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate%20%28on%29. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

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