spell out

British  

verb

1. to make clear, distinct, or explicit; clarify in detail

   let me spell out the implications

2. to read laboriously or with difficulty, working out each word letter by letter

3. to discern by study; puzzle out

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spell out Idioms  

1. Make plain, clarify, as in We asked her to spell out her objectives . [c. 1940]

2. Read slowly and laboriously, as in He was only six but he managed to spell out the instructions . [Early 1800s]

3. Puzzle out, manage to understand with some effort, as in It took years before anyone could spell out the inscriptions on the Rosetta Stone . [Late 1600s] All three usages transfer spell in the sense of “proceed letter by letter.”

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Example Sentences

She didn’t spell out what this all meant, but it seemed to imply that Erika was raised to be a Project Looking Glass agent assigned to handle Charlie.

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026

But for that strategy to work, Elliott says, you must spell out the details of an employee’s performance and go into depth on the company’s aims.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

When a child receives "specialist support", they will be given a "specialist provision package", which will be created by education, health and care experts and will spell out what they need.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

The "border defence strategy" outlined in the bill does not spell out how exactly ships will be prevented from crossing Italy's waters or by whom.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

He could not spell out H-E-L-P, when there was no longer any land between the lakeshore and the woods.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Related Words

• define
• describe
• expound
• illustrate
• justify
• point out