expatiate

/ɛkˈspeɪʃɪeɪt/

Group 29Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(verb)
To speak or write at length or in detail
GRE

Example in Context

The professor expatiated on the subject for the better part of an hour, covering historical, philosophical, and practical dimensions that students had not anticipated.

Synonyms

elaborateexpandgo on

Etymology

To walk out in detail — to elaborate extensively.

  • ex- (Latin) — out
  • patiare (Latin) — to walk

Memory Aid

🍽️Sounds like “ex-pat eat

An EX-PAT at a buffet EXPATIATES on every dish while overstuffing his face!

Visual Association

🗣️A person at a podium, gesturing wildly and talking for hours while the audience snoozes.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “expatiate” mean on the GRE?

expatiate (verb) means “To speak or write at length or in detail”. The professor expatiated on the subject for the better part of an hour, covering historical, philosophical, and practical dimensions that students had not anticipated.

How to remember “expatiate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “expatiate” sounds like “ex-pat eat”. An EX-PAT at a buffet EXPATIATES on every dish while overstuffing his face!

What are synonyms for “expatiate”?

Common synonyms: elaborate, expand, go on.