verb · formal
clarify
/ˈklærɪfaɪ/CLAR·i·fy
Band 5-6speakingtask2task1
to make something clear or easier to understand
Examples
“Could you clarify what you mean by 'access' in that sentence?”
“The teacher clarified the instructions before we started.”
“Let me clarify my position on this issue.”
Band 8 sentence
“If a question in the prompt seems ambiguous, it's important to clarify the exact meaning before you start writing.”
Collocations
- clarify a point
- clarify the instructions
- clarify what you mean
Word family
clarify verbclarification nounclear adjectiveclarified adjective/participle
Common mistakes
to make clear the rules→to clarify the rules
I want to clarify about the date→I want to clarify the date
Say it for a higher band
5explain→6make clear→7+clarify
Synonyms
explain
elucidate
Easily confused
explain
“Can you explain how this machine works?”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In -ify
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