How to Use elaborate in a Sentence

elaborate

1 of 2 adjective
  • I see now that her behavior was all part of an elaborate plan.
  • He told the story in elaborate detail.
  • The dancers were wearing elaborate costumes.
  • They made elaborate preparations for his visit.
  • Her elaborate show bore that out.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Game plans can seem quite elaborate.
    — ABC News, 27 May 2026
  • Part of that was matching all the elaborate trim and scroll work.
    — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, 8 Oct. 2017
  • Is this an elaborate way to lean into the show’s premise?
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Some states had elaborate plans, but they were not carried out.
    — Danielle Jackson, Longreads, 7 May 2018
  • Some of them come back the next time with ideas for even more elaborate designs.
    — Washington Post, 21 June 2021
  • The death scenes are always much more elaborate, with more blood and gore.
    — Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2023
  • Both wore elaborate hats topped by black crows, symbols of death.
    — Susan Degrane, chicagotribune.com, 2 Nov. 2020
  • As a child, wearing a sari seemed to me like an elaborate game of dress-up.
    — Meara Sharma, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2019
  • Maybe – just maybe – this was an elaborate way to promote the new flight?
    — David Wysong, The Enquirer, 5 June 2023
  • But there are more elaborate systems out there.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
  • Wright’s penchant for elaborate, over-the-top set pieces helps, too.
    — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2022
  • Please tell me this is just some sort of elaborate setup for a fan club party.
    — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Kids clubs on ships are more elaborate than at resorts on land, one expert said.
    — Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
  • And the announcement event will be more elaborate than in years past.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2020
  • So what’s happened to the elaborate set since the segment was shot?
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2026
  • Kathy Koehler had made elaborate plans to meet her first grandchild.
    — New York Times, 11 Mar. 2021
  • One of them just announced her plans for an elaborate wedding.
    — Abigail Van Buren, Twin Cities, 22 Dec. 2019
  • There wasn't an elaborate dinner where the staff asked him a bunch of questions.
    — Cameron Teague Robinson, The Courier-Journal, 15 May 2020
  • Groups from each house compete in elaborate balls that take cues from the world of fashion.
    — al, 2 June 2022
  • Planning for the elaborate hunt has taken more than a year.
    — Lisa Gutierrez january 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2026
  • But as the months progressed, the envelopes got more and more elaborate.
    — Steve Hartman, CBS News, 5 May 2023
  • Balt asked for these really elaborate sets to be built.
    — Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
  • This means there will be no breaks that had been used to move elaborate sets between dance numbers.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2022
  • Kuckuk initially thought my phone calls were part of some strange, elaborate scam.
    — oregonlive, 13 Jan. 2020
  • The oldest was buried with weapons and an elaborate headdress.
    — National Geographic, 18 June 2020

elaborate

2 of 2 verb
  • I'll be glad to elaborate if you want to hear more.
  • She was asked to say more about her earlier statements, but she declined to elaborate.
  • Not one of them asked her to elaborate on her claims about voter fraud.
    — Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2021
  • Use it to elaborate on your new career goals.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Scherer did not elaborate on whether the boy, girl or both were armed.
    — The Arizona Republic, 19 Mar. 2024
  • Singh would not elaborate on what caused the restaurant to close.
    — John-John Williams Iv, baltimoresun.com, 7 May 2018
  • Redd said that not all of the victims were stabbed, but did not elaborate.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Charges were not filed in that case, though Rosati could not elaborate.
    — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2018
  • Trump did not elaborate on plans for other cities.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
  • DeWine didn’t elaborate on who goes back to work or whether schools will re-open.
    — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 19 Apr. 2020
  • Grant did not elaborate on what led him to believe foul play was involved.
    — Nicole Blanchard, idahostatesman, 23 Oct. 2017
  • The email does not elaborate any further.
    — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 19 Dec. 2025
  • The post didn't elaborate on the nature or cause of the issue.
    — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2022
  • Fitzgerald said the two men knew each other but did not elaborate.
    — Carol Robinson | [email protected], al, 21 June 2023
  • Asked what the fan said to incite him, Stallings would not elaborate.
    — Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal, 2 Jan. 2018
  • The statement did not elaborate on the reasons for his ouster.
    — Meredith Blake, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2023
  • Pierson did not elaborate on why the charges are being tossed.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2021
  • Adams said the gunman had an escape plan, too, but would not elaborate.
    — Brian Witte, BostonGlobe.com, 29 June 2018
  • The company did not elaborate on what those steps would be.
    — Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The statement did not elaborate on the status of their case.
    — Steve Karnowski, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Beckwitt went to elaborate lengths to keep the project a secret.
    — Michael Kunzelman, BostonGlobe.com, 17 June 2019
  • Beckwitt went to elaborate lengths to keep the project a secret.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 13 June 2019
  • Nguyen's group went to elaborate lengths to create proof of the sham weddings.
    — Alison Medley, Chron, 6 Nov. 2020
  • Evans did not elaborate on this expense when asked for context.
    — Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Høeg said on social media that she had been fired from the role, but did not elaborate.
    — Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 16 May 2026
  • Gallego tried to elaborate, but struggled to find the right words.
    — Jessica Boehm, azcentral, 7 June 2020
  • The team spokesman won’t elaborate on the nature of the injury.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Trump did not elaborate on what those consequences would be.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Orr elaborated on this as well.
    — Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The statement fails to doesn't elaborate on the child's injuries.
    — Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, 22 July 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elaborate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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