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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elaborate (on)
Verb
  • But on cross-examination, Richards said Colt had exaggerated his mental health symptoms and made things up to try to get a more serious diagnosis.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • The president exaggerated the nation’s manufacturing rebound under his watch and, once more, mocked the affordability crisis that polls suggest is top of mind for many voters.
    Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • Chinese brands were able to capitalize on high demand this year, especially in Europe, thanks to flexible supply chains that can rapidly develop new, localized products.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • At the same time, the Navy keeps developing the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine to replace the aging Ohio-class nuclear deterrent fleet.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Harper singled home a run in the first inning Friday but struck out with runners on the corners in the seventh when the Phillies had a chance to pad the lead.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Garrett Mitchell drove in another run in the fourth to cut the Giants lead to 3-2, but San Francisco padded its lead in the sixth inning when Christian Koss and Arraez each singled in a run with the bases loaded.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • In the mid-1960s, the festival expanded from an intimate get-together among church members to a cultural exchange for the greater Sacramento community.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • San Gregorio State Beach is now roughly twice its size after expanding into the formerly private ranch, San Gregorio Ranch.
    Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Chief Judge Joan Ericksen, a federal judge from Minnesota, initially ordered the DOJ to supplement its legal arguments before later finding probable cause to allow the case to proceed.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026
  • Following the film’s premiere, many critics praised it for both a joyful depiction of Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene and its ability to supplement its joyful romantic swings with pathos.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 July 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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elaborate (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elaborate%20%28on%29. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster