Clarify: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you need to make something easier to understand, often in response to confusion or questions.

• Could you clarify your last point? Her questions helped to clarify some of the complex issues

A general term suitable for everyday use when you need to describe something in a way that makes it understandable.

• Can you explain how this works? She explained the rules of the game to the children

This is a more formal term used in academic or professional settings to make something clear by explaining it in detail.

• He was asked to elucidate the reasons for his decisions
• The professor's explanation helped to elucidate the concept

Often used to emphasize the importance of understanding something accurately, sometimes to avoid misunderstandings.

• Let me make this clear: you need to submit the report by Friday
• His statement made clear the company's policy on the issue

Usually used when revealing or uncovering new information that was not previously understood, often in a figurative sense.

• The investigation will shed light on what happened
• Her biography sheds light on her early life and influences

Use this when you need to make something easier to understand.

• Can you clarify the instructions?
• Let's clarify the terms of the agreement.

Use this when you want to make something pure or free from impurities, often intensively.

• These tablets can purify drinking water.
• The monks go to the temple to purify their thoughts.

This is best used when you want to separate unwanted elements from a substance or information.

• He installed a device to filter the water.
• You should filter the results to find what you need.

This is often used with a sense of making something clean, usually in a thorough or ritualistic way.

• She uses this soap to cleanse her face.
• They decided to cleanse the house to get rid of any bad energy.

Utilize when you need to make something more understandable or when resolving confusion.

• Could you clarify your statement about the meeting? The teacher needs to clarify the homework instructions

Appropriate for general use when offering reasons or details to make something clear.

• I need an explanation for your absence yesterday
• Her explanation made the concept easy to grasp

Used when explaining the meaning of something, often based on personal understanding, which can include subjective elements.

• His interpretation of the poem was quite different from mine
• Can you provide your interpretation of this law?

Best used in more formal contexts when explaining something complex in a detailed manner.

• The scientist's elucidation of the theory was very thorough
• His elucidation helped us understand the intricate process