spell

¹ American  

[spel] / spɛl /

verb (used with object)

spelled, spelt, spelling

1. to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.).

   Did I spell your name right?

2. (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.).

   The letters spelled a rather rude word.

3. to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often followed byout ).

   She painfully spelled out the message.

4. to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often followed byout ).

5. to signify; amount to.

   This delay spells disaster for us.

   Synonyms:

   promise, mean, portend, foretell

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verb (used without object)

spelled, spelt, spelling

1. to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc..

   He spells poorly.

2. to express words by letters, especially correctly.

verb phrase

1. spell out

   1. to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable.

      Must I spell it out for you?

   2. to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed.

      The title “Ph.D.” is seldom spelled out.

2. spell down to outspell others in a spelling match.

spell ² American  

[spel] / spɛl /

noun

1. a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power; charm; incantation.

   The wizard cast a spell.

2. a state or period of enchantment.

   She was under a spell.

3. any dominating or irresistible influence; fascination.

   the spell of fine music.

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spell ³ American  

[spel] / spɛl /

noun

1. a continuous course or period of work or other activity.

   to take a spell at the wheel.

2. a turn of work so taken.

3. a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring.

   a spell of coughing.

4. an indefinite interval or space of time.

   Come visit us for a spell.

   Synonyms:

   stretch, bit, while

5. a period of weather of a specified kind.

   a hot spell.

6. Australian. a rest period.

7. Archaic. a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another.

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verb (used with object)

1. to take the place of for a time; relieve.

   Let me spell you at the wheel.

2. Australian. to declare or give a rest period to.

verb (used without object)

1. Australian. to have or take a rest period.

spell ¹ British  

/ spɛl /

noun

1. a verbal formula considered as having magical force

2. any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination

3. a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; trance

   to break the spell

4. held in or as if in a spell

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verb

1. rare (tr) to place under a spell

spell ² British  

/ spɛl /

noun

1. an indeterminate, usually short, period of time

   a spell of cold weather

2. a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another

3. a period or interval of rest

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verb

1. (tr) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily

2. to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow

spell ³ British  

/ spɛl /

verb

1. to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)

2. (tr) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctly

   d-o-g spells dog

3. (tr) to indicate or signify

   such actions spell disaster for our cause

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spell Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing spell

• cold snap (spell)
• under someone's spell

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Other Word Forms

• spell-like
  adjective
• spellable
  adjective
• spellful
  adjective
• unspellable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spell¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English spel(l)en “to mean, signify,” from Old French espeller, espelir, from Germanic; compare Old English spellian “to talk, converse, announce” (derivative of spell “magic charm”); akin to Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spillōn “to narrate”; see origin at spell ²

Origin of spell²

First recorded before 900; Middle English spel “story, tale, narrative,” Old English; cognate with Old High German spel, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spill “fable, story”; see spell ¹, gospel

Origin of spell³

First recorded in 1585–95; (verb) alteration of earlier spel(l)e “to stand in place of, relieve, spare,” Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spelian “to stand in place of, represent”; spala, gespelia “a substitute”; the noun is derivative of the verb

Explanation

A spell is a series of words that has magical powers. If you’re under a spell, then what you do is out of your control — your thoughts and actions are dictated by the spell. Spell can refer to the magic words you say, or it can describe being under the influence of those words. You probably don’t encounter many magic spells in real life, but the word is often used figuratively to describe those times when you feel like a magical power controls your action. Of course, this word can also mean the verb "to spell" which refers to reciting the letters in a word, like the competitive spellers in a spelling bee.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spell spelled spelling spelt

But what can we glean from Root's previous spell in charge, and what should we expect from his second permanent spell in arguably English cricket's most prestigious position?

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Clarke was emphatic in his exit interview with the SFA, saying the core he developed over his seven-year spell is "not finished yet".

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Like many European countries, the Netherlands has been hit by a historic summer drought caused by a prolonged dry spell, exceptional heat and intense evaporation.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

He acknowledged that some people in the industry struggled to spell and pronounce Magrathea and have even called it Margherita.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Later, his mother had shown him how to spell yes.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

The electric letters glow white against a black wall, their message spelled out with odd capitalizations, in Ms. Emin’s distinctive, sloping script.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

When Andrew Todd and his children got caught in a rip current while swimming in the sea, it could have spelled disaster.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Every possible result for any conceivable situation is spelled out for us via a few quick internet searches.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

EU trade spokesman Olof Gill said: "It is our clear understanding and expectation that the US will honor the commitments that are spelled out under the EU-US Joint Statement, whatever tariff regime is constructed."

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

When Estella miscarried a third time, the doctor spelled the consequences out more plainly: “Another pregnancy could kill your wife.”

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

The reserve for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever comes off the bench for the latter-day contenders, spelling for star Caitlin Clark and averaging a respectable eight points per game.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

The two sides still have to finalize agreements spelling out the services that will be provided at each venue by July 2027.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026

Reed jokes that while he doesn't mind the odd spelling mistake "because it shows it was written by a human, not AI", attention to detail is really important so make sure it is grammatically correct.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

Lloyd Blankfein is spelling out the unwritten rules of Wall Street style.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

It must have been a comfort that her first name was unusual, if only in its spelling.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Although not spelt out precisely during the interview, the implication of Block’s trade rationale is that higher unemployment means economic weakness and this would in turn lead to deteriorating corporate financials.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 1, 2026

Two humiliating friendly results three months later – a goalless draw with Gibraltar and 4-0 thrashing by Slovakia – spelt the end for Page.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025

A truck carrying Hatton's yellow three-wheeler car was at the head of the funeral procession, with the name "Ricky" spelt out in flowers.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025

His team later spelt out explicitly their endorsement and insisted she was staying put in her job.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025

This young woman had applied for the vacancy with the most dubious of references, which spelt out to any experienced butler that she had left her previous situation under something of a cloud.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

• add up to
• augur
• indicate
• intend
• portend
• presage
• signify
• suggest