Details — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase /di-ˈtāl/

Meaning & Definition of Details

Details (verb)

  1. to report minutely and distinctly, to report with close attention to small elements, specify
  2. to assign to a particular task
  3. to furnish with the smaller elements of design and finish

Details (noun)

  1. extended treatment of or attention to particular items
  2. a part of a whole
  3. a small and subordinate part, particular
  4. the small facts or pieces of information about something that are unpleasant or interesting in a shocking way

Details (phrase)

  1. to not tell someone all the unpleasant or boring details about something
  2. to worry about minor things

Details (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a separate part in a list, account, or series

    "every detail was accounted for"

    similar: items, particulars, points
    related: articles, belongings, objects, stuff, things, characteristics, components, constituents, elements, factors, features, members, ingredients, divisions, particles, partitions, pieces, portions, sections, segments
    near: aggregates, composites, compounds, conglomerates, entireties, summations, sums, totalities, totals, wholes

  2. a single piece of information

    "didn't leave out a single detail in his police report on the burglary"

    similar: data, facts, niceties, particularities, particulars, points, specifics
    related: articles, items, components, constituents, elements, ingredients, members, parts, aspects, circumstances, facets, factors, evidences, exhibits, databases, information, knowledges
    near: errors, fallacies, falsehoods, inaccuracies, misconceptions, misstatements, myths

  3. a small military unit with a special task or function

    "the officer sent out a detail to patrol the perimeter of the compound"

    similar: detachments
    related: commandos, firing squads, outposts, paratroops, patrols, pickets, rear guards, sentries, watches, battalions, commands, companies, corps, divisions, platoons, regiments, squadrons, squads, troops, wings

  4. a specific task with which a person or group is charged

    "the soldier was placed on guard detail at the border crossing"

    similar: assignments, briefs, businesses, charges, jobs, missions, operations, posts
    related: burdens, chores, duties, needs, obligations, offices, requirements, responsibilities, errands, labors, works, commitments, pledges, promises, appointments, commissions, designations, nominations, compulsions, constraints, restraints

Details (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to assign to a place or position

    "once again he was detailed to guard duty"

    similar: posts, stations
    related: sets, appoints, places, positions

  2. to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty

    "the new assistant was detailed to accompany the boss on the business trip"

    similar: appoints, assigns, attaches, commissions, constitutes, designates, names, nominates, places
    related: authorizes, delegates, deputes, deputizes, anoints, consecrates, creates, inaugurates, inducts, installs, instates, institutes, invests, makes, ordains, crowns, enthrones, thrones, chooses, destines, drafts, elects, handpicks, selects, singles (out), votes (in)
    opposite: discharges, dismisses, expels, fires
    near: blackballs, deposes, dethrones, displaces, ejects, evicts, ousts, overthrows, removes, throws out, uncrowns, unmakes, unseats

  3. to specify one after another

    "detailed all of the reasons that the plan was a bad idea"

    similar: enumerates, itemizes, lists, numerates, recites, reels off, rehearses, ticks (off)
    related: outlines, tabulates, tallies, catalogs, inventories, charts, diagrams, graphs, calculates, computes, estimates, figures, reckons, cites, mentions, names
    near: generalizes

Related Entry: Detail (noun)

Detail is a different word from Details. The synonyms below are for detail, not for details.

  1. a separate part in a list, account, or series

    "every detail was accounted for"

    similar: item, particular, point
    related: article, belonging, object, stuff, thing, characteristic, component, constituent, element, factor, feature, member, ingredient, division, particle, partition, piece, portion, section, segment
    near: aggregate, composite, compound, conglomerate, entirety, sum, summation, total, totality, whole

  2. a single piece of information

    "didn't leave out a single detail in his police report on the burglary"

    similar: datum, fact, nicety, particular, particularity, point, specific
    related: article, item, component, constituent, element, ingredient, member, part, aspect, circumstance, facet, factor, evidence, exhibit, database, information, knowledge
    near: error, fallacy, falsehood, inaccuracy, misconception, misstatement, myth

  3. a small military unit with a special task or function

    "the officer sent out a detail to patrol the perimeter of the compound"

    similar: detachment
    related: commando, firing squad, outpost, paratroops, patrol, picket, rear guard, sentry, watch, battalion, command, company, corps, division, platoon, regiment, squad, squadron, troop, wing

  4. a specific task with which a person or group is charged

    "the soldier was placed on guard detail at the border crossing"

    similar: assignment, brief, business, charge, job, mission, operation, post
    related: burden, chore, duty, need, obligation, office, requirement, responsibility, errand, labor, work, commitment, pledge, promise, appointment, commission, designation, nomination, compulsion, constraint, restraint

Related Entry: Detail (verb)

Detail is a different word from Details. The synonyms below are for detail, not for details.

  1. to assign to a place or position

    "once again he was detailed to guard duty"

    similar: post, station
    related: set, appoint, place, position

  2. to pick (someone) by one's authority for a specific position or duty

    "the new assistant was detailed to accompany the boss on the business trip"

    similar: appoint, assign, attach, commission, constitute, designate, name, nominate, place
    related: authorize, delegate, depute, deputize, anoint, consecrate, create, inaugurate, induct, install, instate, institute, invest, make, ordain, crown, enthrone, throne, choose, destine, draft, elect, handpick, select, single (out), vote (in)
    opposite: discharge, dismiss, expel, fire
    near: blackball, depose, dethrone, displace, eject, evict, oust, overthrow, remove, throw out, uncrown, unmake, unseat

  3. to specify one after another

    "detailed all of the reasons that the plan was a bad idea"

    similar: enumerate, itemize, list, numerate, recite, reel off, rehearse, tick (off)
    related: outline, tabulate, tally, catalog, inventory, chart, diagram, graph, calculate, compute, estimate, figure, reckon, cite, mention, name

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Details

The most common words with a similar meaning to Details:

items, particulars, points, data, facts, niceties, particularities, specifics, detachments, assignments, briefs, businesses, charges, jobs, missions, operations, posts, stations, appoints, assigns, attaches, commissions, constitutes, designates, names, nominates, places, enumerates, itemizes, lists, numerates, recites, reels off, rehearses, ticks (off)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Details

Words with the opposite meaning of Details:

discharges, dismisses, expels, fires

Related Words for Details

articles, belongings, objects, stuff, things, characteristics, components, constituents, elements, factors, features, members, ingredients, divisions, particles, partitions, pieces, portions, sections, segments, parts, aspects, circumstances, facets, evidences, exhibits, databases, information, knowledges, commandos

Near Antonyms of Details

aggregates, composites, compounds, conglomerates, entireties, summations, sums, totalities, totals, wholes, errors, fallacies, falsehoods, inaccuracies, misconceptions, misstatements, myths, blackballs, deposes, dethrones, displaces, ejects, evicts, ousts, overthrows, removes, throws out, uncrowns, unmakes, unseats

Word Forms of Details

Inflections: detailed, detailing

Derived words: detailer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Details

French détail, from Old French detail slice, piece, from detaillier to cut in pieces, from de- + taillier to cut tailor

First known use: 1650t

Words & Phrases Containing Details

gory details, spare (someone) the details, sweat the details

Frequently Asked Questions about Details

What does "Details" mean?

"Details" means to report minutely and distinctly, to report with close attention to small elements, specify. As an a verb, a noun and a phrase, it is defined as: to report minutely and distinctly, to report with close attention to small elements, specify. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Details"?

Other words for "Details" include items, particulars, points, data, facts, niceties, particularities and specifics. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Details" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Details"?

There are 146 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Details". Common alternatives include items, particulars, points, data, facts, niceties, particularities, specifics, detachments and assignments.

What is the opposite of "Details"?

Antonyms of "Details" include discharges, dismisses, expels and fires. Near antonyms include aggregates, composites, compounds and conglomerates.

How do you use "Details" in a sentence?

Examples of "Details" in a sentence: "every detail was accounted for"; "didn't leave out a single detail in his police report on the burglary"; "the officer sent out a detail to patrol the perimeter of the compound".

Is "Details" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Details" can be used as a verb, a noun and a phrase, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Details"?

"Details" is pronounced /di-ˈtāl/.

What is the origin of the word "Details"?

"Details" comes from French détail, from Old French detail slice, piece, from detaillier to cut in pieces, from de- + taillier to cut tailor. First known use: 1650t.