detail
B1 (High frequency; 2500 most common words)Neutral to formal. The noun is very common; the verb is more formal.
Definition
Meaning
A small, individual part or item of a whole; a minor feature or fact.
A description or discussion of the small parts of something, often for thoroughness or clarity; the level of attention given to these small parts; (verb) to describe or list these small parts, or to assign someone to a specific task.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Noun usage is overwhelmingly more common. In singular form, often refers to a specific fact. In plural form ('details'), refers to all relevant information or small points.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Pronunciation differs (see IPA). The verb form, meaning 'to assign to a task', is used more in US English, especially in military/police contexts. The phrase 'in detail' is universal.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
The noun has very high and equal frequency in both dialects. The verb is moderately frequent in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
describe sth in detaildiscuss the details of sthdetail sth for/to sbdetail sb to do sth (esp. US)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The devil is in the details.”
- “Not to go into details.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for specifics in plans, contracts, and reports. (e.g., 'We need to finalise the commercial details.')
Academic
Refers to specific data, evidence, or analysis. (e.g., 'The methodology is described in detail.')
Everyday
Used for specifics of plans or stories. (e.g., 'Can you give me the details for the party?')
Technical
Refers to precise specifications or fine points of a design or process.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The report will detail the proposed changes.
- He was detailed to escort the visitors.
American English
- The invoice details all charges.
- The officer was detailed to traffic duty.
adverb
British English
- The process is detailedly documented in the appendix.
- She explained it very detailedly.
American English
- The process is documented in detail in the appendix.
- She explained it very thoroughly.
adjective
British English
- She gave a very detailed account of the meeting.
- We need a more detailed plan.
American English
- He provided detailed instructions.
- The map is incredibly detailed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please write your name and address in the form.
- I like the small detail on the dress.
- He explained the plan in detail.
- Can you send me the details of the meeting?
- The contract omits several crucial financial details.
- We must pay close attention to detail in this project.
- The biography painstakingly details the artist's early struggles.
- The architect's obsessive focus on detail resulted in a flawless structure.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a detective writing down every single fact on his TAIL. DE-TAIL. The details are the small things that make up the tail of the story.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING / UNDERSTANDING IS GRASPING (e.g., 'I can't quite grasp the details of the plan.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'retail' (розничная торговля).
- The word 'деталь' in Russian is a false friend—it only refers to a mechanical part, while 'detail' is much broader.
- Avoid direct translation of 'in details'; use 'in detail' (singular).
Common Mistakes
- ~~I will explain you in details.~~ (Correct: I will explain it to you in detail.)
- ~~He forgot one detail: his passport.~~ (Grammatical but often 'He forgot one important detail: his passport.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the most common meaning of 'detail' as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The correct phrase is almost always 'in detail' (singular), meaning 'thoroughly'. 'Details' is used in phrases like 'the details of something'.
It is an idiom meaning to be careful and thorough, noticing and dealing with all the small, important parts of a task.
Yes. It means either 1) to describe something item by item, or 2) (especially US English) to assign someone to a specific task, often in an official context.
A 'detail' is one specific small fact or feature. 'Details' refers to a collection of such facts or all the specific information about something.