Verbose means using too many words to say something that could be said more simply. A verbose explanation goes on and on, adding extra details and lengthy descriptions when a shorter version would work better.

Imagine your friend asks what you did yesterday, and instead of saying “I went to the park and played soccer,” you say: “Well, first I prepared myself mentally for the outdoor excursion, then I commenced my journey to the recreational facility commonly known as the park, where I subsequently engaged in the athletic activity of soccer with various individuals.” That's being verbose: technically correct, but exhausting to listen to.

Teachers often ask students to be clear and concise rather than verbose. A verbose book report might repeat the same ideas in different words or include unnecessary details that don't add meaning. The opposite of verbose writing is concise writing, which expresses ideas efficiently.

Being verbose isn't the same as being thorough or detailed. A science report can be detailed without being verbose if every sentence adds useful information. But if you're adding extra words just to reach a page requirement, you're being verbose. Good writers know that more words don't automatically mean better communication. Sometimes the shortest explanation is the strongest one.