Explanation Collocation for IELTS: A List to Boost Your Score

Kasturika Samanta

9 min read

Updated On Oct 14, 2025

Learn the most useful explanation collocations for IELTS success. Explore collocations with verbs, adjectives, nouns, and other common expressions with examples, meaning, and exercises to improve vocabulary, fluency, and writing skills for Band 7.0+.

Lists of Explanation Collocations for IELTS to Boost Your Score
Notes
Explanation Collocation for IELTS: Practice Exercises
Explanation Collocations Answer Keys for Practice Exercises

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When it comes to scoring high in the IELTS, clarity is a key factor, as examiners look for candidates who can express their thoughts logically and justify their ideas convincingly. As a result, the word ‘explanation’ and explanation collocations for IELTS become your linguistic superpower. They not only mean giving a reason but also reflect understanding, analysis, and clarity of thought.

In this blog, we will explore the most important explanation collocations to boost your advanced vocabulary word list for IELTS as well as your band score.

Lists of Explanation Collocations for IELTS to Boost Your Score

Whether you are justifying an argument in IELTS Writing Task 2, clarifying a diagram in Task 1, or narrating an experience in Speaking Part 2, using explanation collocations helps you sound fluent, formal, and naturally expressive.

In the following tables, we have provided various explanation collocations for IELTS, along with their usage examples.

Verb + Explanation Collocations

These explanation collocations show what we do with an explanation: demand it, give it, defy it, or owe it. They are commonly used in IELTS Speaking Part 3 (analytical questions) and Writing Task 2 (argument essays).

Verb + Explanation	Meaning	Example Sentence
Defy explanation	to be impossible to explain logically	Some natural disasters defy explanation, even with advanced technology.
Demand an explanation	to insist on a reason for something	Citizens demanded an explanation for the sudden policy change.
Give an explanation	to offer or present reasons for something	In Task 2, you must give a clear explanation supported by examples.
Hear an explanation	to listen to someone’s reasoning or justification	The examiner heard the candidate’s explanation about the topic.
Owe (someone) an explanation	to be obliged to justify one’s actions	The government owes the public an explanation for the increased taxes.
Think of an explanation	to come up with or imagine a reason	Scientists are still trying to think of an explanation for the unusual results.
Offer an explanation	to provide a reason or justification	The teacher offered a simple explanation of the complex theory.
Seek an explanation	to look for the reason behind something	Researchers seek an explanation for the rise in childhood obesity.
Accept an explanation	to agree with or believe a given reason	The public did not accept the company’s explanation for the data leak.
Call for an explanation	to require a justification or reasoning	The situation calls for an explanation from the responsible authorities.
Need for explanation	Requirement for reasoning or clarification	There is a need for explanation regarding the changes in the syllabus.
Provide an explanation for	To offer reasons for something	The author provides an explanation for the decline in literacy rates.

Noun + of + Explanation Collocations

These structures often appear in academic and formal writing where ‘explanation’ is used as part of a prepositional phrase. They help you describe the kind or nature of the explanation in a more sophisticated way.

Noun + of + Explanation	Meaning	Example Sentence
Some sort of explanation	a vague or general kind of reasoning	There must be some sort of explanation for the sudden change in temperature.
By way of explanation	as a means of providing clarification	By way of explanation, the teacher drew a simple diagram.
A word of explanation	a brief remark offering clarity	Let me add a word of explanation before we proceed.
A lack of explanation	absence of reasoning or justification	A lack of explanation led to confusion among the participants.
A form of explanation	a particular type or method of reasoning	Metaphors can be a form of explanation in literature.
A piece of explanation	a small part of reasoning	The article included a useful piece of explanation about the experiment.
A level of explanation	the degree of detail in reasoning	The essay demonstrates a high level of explanation and logical flow.
A kind of explanation	a specific type or version of reasoning	There is another kind of explanation for the same phenomenon.
A sense of explanation	a feeling or impression of understanding	His calm tone gave a sense of explanation that reassured everyone.
A line of explanation	a particular line of reasoning	The author follows a consistent line of explanation throughout the text.

Common Adjective Collocations with ‘Explanation’

These collocations describe the quality, nature, or validity of an explanation. They are highly useful for IELTS Writing Task 2, especially in evaluative or analytical essays.

Adjective Collocation	Meaning	Example Sentence
No apparent explanation	no obvious or visible reason	There was no apparent explanation for the economic collapse.
Quick explanation	a brief or immediate reason	Let me give a quick explanation before we move on to the next point.
Possible explanation	a reasonable or hypothetical reason	A possible explanation for the decline could be a lack of awareness.
Official explanation	a reason given by an authority	The official explanation for the delay was technical issues.
Only explanation	the sole or most logical reason	The only explanation for the rise in prices is poor management.
Accepted explanation	a widely agreed-upon reason	The accepted explanation for this phenomenon is global warming.
Convincing explanation	a reason that sounds believable	The student provided a convincing explanation for the unexpected results.
A very detailed explanation	a thorough and in-depth reason	The guide offers a very detailed explanation of each IELTS section.
An immediate explanation	a quick and prompt reason	He gave an immediate explanation when questioned by the examiner.
The most likely explanation	the most reasonable or probable reason	The most likely explanation is that the system malfunctioned.
Logical explanation	a reason that makes sense and follows reasoning	The writer offers a logical explanation for the effects of technology.
Any other possible explanation	any remaining or alternative reason	There seems to be no other possible explanation for this pattern.
Inadequate explanation	an incomplete or unsatisfactory reason	The report gave an inadequate explanation for the low results.
Scientific explanation	a reason based on research or evidence	Scientists provided a scientific explanation for the environmental changes.
Simple explanation	a reason that is easy to understand	The teacher gave a simple explanation to help students grasp the idea.

Common Expressions and Phrases with ‘Explanation’

These fixed phrases and idiomatic uses of ‘explanation’ often appear in both academic writing and IELTS Speaking when you discuss reasoning, understanding, or justification.

Expression	Meaning	Example Sentence
Without explanation	without giving any reason	The manager left the meeting without explanation.
Give rise to an explanation	to create a need for reasoning	This new data gives rise to an explanation and further research.
In need of explanation	requiring clarification	Some aspects of the graph are still in need of explanation.
Beyond explanation	too strange or complex to explain	The beauty of nature is sometimes beyond explanation.
For the sake of explanation	to clarify something	For the sake of explanation, let’s use a simple example.
Demanding further explanation	requiring more detailed clarification	The issue demands further explanation before action is taken.
By way of brief explanation	to introduce a short clarification	By way of brief explanation, this essay focuses on renewable energy.

Notes

Note the different verbs:
- He didn’t offer any explanation for his late arrival.
- The director went into a long explanation.
- Nobody could come up with an explanation.
Note this expression:
- He gave no explanation as to why he wasn’t there.
If an explanation is ‘far-fetched’ or ‘not very plausible’, it is difficult to believe.

Explanation Collocation for IELTS: Practice Exercises

Here are some exercises to help you improve your understanding and your ability to use explanation collocations for IELTS.

Exercise A: Use the correct form of these verbs.

defy demand give

hear owe think of

I heard you coming in at five o’clock this morning. You said you would be home by midnight. I’m waiting to _________ your explanation.
The instructor_________ us a very clear explanation of how the machine worked. It was very easy to follow.
This is the second time you’ve failed to attend the meeting. I think you _________ us all an explanation.
No wonder you’re angry! If Gwen was paid to produce the report by last Friday, I think you can _________ an explanation from her as to why nothing has appeared.
Nobody can understand why the Prime Minister has given the job to one of his best friends. It’s a strange decision that _________ explanation.
I can’t _________ an explanation for Pete’s bad behaviour. He’s usually so well-behaved.

Exercise B: Complete the sentences with these adjectives.

no apparent convincing

a very detailed an immediate

the most likely logical

any other possible

I’m sorry I’m late. The manager insisted on going into _________ explanation of every aspect of the job and I just couldn’t get away.
_____________ explanation for Steve’s absence is that his plane has been delayed. => Yes, I can’t think of _________ explanation.
When I caught my oldest son trying on my best dress, I demanded _________________ explanation! He said he was going to a fancy-dress party!
There seems to be _________ explanation for the attack. It’s beginning to look like an act of mindless violence.
That’s not a very _________ explanation. I’ll believe you, but thousands wouldn’t!
Our dog has been acting strangely lately, but there’s probably some perfectly _________ explanation for its odd behaviour.

Exercise C: Use these words to complete the sentences.

some sort of by way of a word of

His first wife just left without _________ explanation. One day she was there; the next she had gone!
I told the policeman – _________ explanation – that I hadn’t seen the speed limit sign. He just laughed and booked me!
There must be _________ explanation for John’s sudden resignation. It’s just come out of the blue!

Exercise D: Match the two halves of these sentences.

Can you just give us a quick explanation of
There are lots of possible explanations
The official explanation for the crash blames
The only explanation I can think of is
The generally accepted explanation of the disaster

a that he’s lost his memory.

b is human error.

c how the system works?

d the driver of the London-bound train.

e why girls do better at school than boys.

Explanation Collocations Answer Keys for Practice Exercises

Ex A:

hear 2. gave 3. owe 4. demand 5. defies 6.think of

Ex B:

1 a very detailed 2.The most likely, any other possible

3 an immediate 4. no apparent

5 convincing 6. logical

Ex C:

a word of 2. by way of 3. some sort of

Ex D:

l-c 2-e 3-d 4-a 5-b

To conclude, mastering explanation collocations helps you express ideas with clarity, depth, and academic precision, all of which directly contribute to a higher IELTS band score. So, remember that in IELTS, it is not enough to have ideas; you must also be able to explain them fluently using appropriate IELTS vocabulary that includes explanation collocations.

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