expatiate
/ɪkˈspeɪ.ʃi.eɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To speak or write in a detailed way about a subject. It often suggests going beyond the main point and saying more than needed.
- She expatiated on the plan for ten minutes.
- He expatiated about his travels after dinner.
- The speaker expatiated on every small detail.
Adinary Nuance
Expatiate is more formal than talk, explain, or discuss. It is close to elaborate and go on, but it often suggests length and some wandering away from the main idea. Writers use it when someone speaks at length, not just clearly or in detail.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- diễn giải dài
- Spanish
- explayarse
- Chinese
- 详述
- Japanese
- 詳述する
- Korean
- 장황하게 설명하다
Etymology
Expatiate came into English from Latin in the 17th century. It comes from Latin expatiari, meaning “to wander at large,” which fits its idea of moving far from the main point.
Common phrases
expatiate on a topicexpatiate at lengthexpatiate about something
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is expatiate a common word in everyday English?
- No, it is fairly formal and more common in writing or educated speech.
- What is the difference between expatiate and elaborate?
- Elaborate means to add more detail. Expatiate often means to speak at length, sometimes too much.
- Can I use expatiate in business writing?
- Yes, but it sounds formal. Use it when you want a literary or academic tone.
- Does expatiate need the word on?
- Often, yes. People usually expatiate on a subject, topic, or idea.