complicate

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈkɑmplɪkeɪt/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪt/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: com‧pli‧cate

Verb

Plain form complicate

Third-person singular complicates

Past tense complicated

Past participle complicated

Present participle complicating

1. (transitive) If you complicate a task, you make it difficult to do.

   My job is harder. They have complicated it by making me answer the telephone, too.

2. (transitive) If you complicate an explanation, you make it difficult to understand.

   Just tell me the facts. Please don't complicate the account with unnecessary details.

Related words

• complication
• complicated