Belaboring: meaning, definitions and examples

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belaboring

 

[ bɪˈleɪbərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

excessive explanation

To belabor something means to explain or discuss it excessively, often to the point of annoyance. It implies a redundancy in explanation, where the speaker goes over the same point multiple times without adding new information.

Synonyms

dwell, expand, overelaborate, repeat

Examples of usage

  • Stop belaboring the point; we all understand.
  • He tends to belabor the issues during meetings.
  • The teacher belabored the instructions until everyone was confused.

Translations

Translations of the word "belaboring" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reiterar

🇮🇳 विस्तृत करना

🇩🇪 ausführlich behandeln

🇮🇩 memperpanjang

🇺🇦 докладно обговорювати

🇵🇱 przedłużać

🇯🇵 詳細に議論する

🇫🇷 répéter

🇪🇸 reiterar

🇹🇷 uzatmak

🇰🇷 상세하게 논의하다

🇸🇦 الإطالة

🇨🇿 rozvádět

🇸🇰 rozvádzať

🇨🇳 详细讨论

🇸🇮 podrobno razpravljati

🇮🇸 tala um of mikið

🇰🇿 толық талқылау

🇬🇪 დეტალურად განხილვა

🇦🇿 təkrarlamaq

🇲🇽 reiterar

Word origin

The word 'belabor' has its origins in the early 17th century, derived from the prefix 'be-' which denotes 'thoroughly' or 'completely' and the Middle English word 'laboren,' meaning to work or toil. The combination suggests a sense of working through a matter excessively. Originally, it was used in a literal sense related to physical labor, but over time it developed a rhetorical sense, implying a figurative form of 'working over' a subject. The term has evolved to often have negative connotations, indicating that one is discussing a topic too much without providing additional clarity. Its use has remained relatively consistent in modern English, primarily appearing in discussions about communication, writing, and speech.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,450, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.