flesh out
phrasal verb
fleshed out; fleshing out; fleshes out
: to provide more information about (something) : to make (something) more complete by adding details
You need to flesh out your plan with more details.
She fleshes out the characters in her novels very well.
Examples of flesh out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ad, which was directed by Her filmmaker Spike Jonze, was preceded by two teasers that established the tense relationship between Gary (Stiller) and John (Boone), and was also expanded to a longer director's cut that fleshes out the characters' backstory.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
The result is a haphazard vision for a future that the Bulls still haven’t fully fleshed out.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But the architect behind this topsy-turvy story arc is decidedly Jackson, who was left to his own devices to flesh out Sue’s complications.
—Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
In 2004, in an era defined by Clinton and Bush, common wisdom held that the romance of politics happened at the level of charm, values, and having-a-beer-ability; policy came later, fleshing out the details like a lawyer with a prenup.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
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Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
The result is a haphazard vision for a future that the Bulls still haven’t fully fleshed out.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But the architect behind this topsy-turvy story arc is decidedly Jackson, who was left to his own devices to flesh out Sue’s complications.
—Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
In 2004, in an era defined by Clinton and Bush, common wisdom held that the romance of politics happened at the level of charm, values, and having-a-beer-ability; policy came later, fleshing out the details like a lawyer with a prenup.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flesh out
Cite this Entry
“Flesh out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flesh%20out. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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