belabored - Master This Word
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belabored Word Meanings
- to explain or work on something excessively
- to argue or elaborate in great detail
- to attack or criticize someone verbally
belabored Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
belabored Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/bɪˈleɪ.bə/
US
/bɪˈleɪ.bɚ/
belabored Word Etymology
Root decomposition: be- (intensifier) + labor (to work). Historical origin: Latin 'labor' → Old French 'belaborer' → English. Memory image: Picture a person laboriously over-explaining a simple task, like a chef spending hours reviewing how to boil water.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Belabor is a formal verb meaning to explain or work on something excessively, often beyond what is helpful. It can also mean to argue or elaborate in great detail, sometimes to the point of irritation. In everyday speech, it is common to say someone is belaboring a point, or that a discussion has belabored the obvious. The word carries a negative or humorous tone, signaling that the speaker feels the speaker is overdoing the explanation. The origin is be- + labor, and the sense has shifted from physical effort to mental over-clarification. People frequently confuse belabor with simply explaining well, so learners should watch for context cues.
Usage Reminders
- Not used to praise; negative or humorous tone
- Common with the point or the obvious
- Often about minor details being over-explained
- Past tense belabored is belabored
- Use sparingly in formal writing; consider simpler alternatives
Common Misconceptions
- Think it refers to physical labor; it does not
- Belabor always means criticize; it can be ironic or neutral
- Confused with laboring over something in a positive sense
- Used only in academic or formal contexts
- Belabor is interchangeable with explain in all contexts
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Practice with the phrase belabor the point to spot collocations
- Compare with phrases like over-elaborate and over-explain
- Note negative or humorous tone in context
- Use in written form to critique over-detailed arguments sparingly
- Watch native examples in meetings or editorials
- Record your own sentences to check naturalness
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