elaborate
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for elaborate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use elaborate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin elaboratus, meaning "worked out fully" — from labor, "work."
Full origin of elaborate →Frequently asked questions
What does “elaborate” mean?
The word “elaborate” means worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed. In plain terms, either "very detailed and carefully made" (adjective) or "to explain something in more detail" (verb).
How do you pronounce “elaborate”?
“Elaborate” is pronounced ih-LAB-ruht (/ɪˈlæb.(ə.)ɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “elaborate” in a sentence?
Here is “elaborate” used in a sentence: “She planned an elaborate surprise party with a live band and fireworks.”
What part of speech is “elaborate”?
Depending on how it is used, “elaborate” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “elaborate” come from?
The word “elaborate” comes from Latin. From Latin elaboratus, meaning "worked out fully" — from labor, "work.".
Is “elaborate” a common word?
“Elaborate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “elaborate” have?
“Elaborate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: worked out with great care and detail; intricate or highly developed.
What is the difference between elaborate and explain?
To explain is to make something understandable, starting from scratch if necessary. To elaborate is specifically to add more detail or explanation to something already said — you can only elaborate on a point that is already on the table. "Could you elaborate?" therefore means "tell me more," not "start again."
Do you elaborate on something or elaborate something?
In everyday English the verb is normally intransitive and takes on (or upon): "She refused to elaborate on the decision." The transitive use without a preposition — "to elaborate a theory" — exists but is formal, and it usually means to work something out in careful detail rather than to add comment.
Is elaborate pronounced differently as an adjective and as a verb?
Yes. The adjective, as in "an elaborate plan," ends with a reduced final syllable, roughly "-rut," while the verb, as in "please elaborate," ends with a full "-rate" sound. English does the same with several -ate words, including separate, graduate, and estimate.
What is the difference between elaborate and intricate?
Intricate stresses many small, interconnected parts that are hard to follow, like the workings of a watch. Elaborate stresses that something has been worked out with great care and rich detail, and it can hint at showiness — an elaborate ceremony, an elaborate excuse. Something can be elaborate without being hard to understand.