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

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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

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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

Prior to his spell in charge of Maritimo, the 38-year-old spent five years working under Jurgen Klopp as an elite development coach at Liverpool, before joining Red Bull Salzburg as Pep Lijnders' number two.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

I’ve heard some reporters saying they won’t even bother to learn how to spell her name.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

ET, with a cold spell expected in the Northeast this weekend supporting near-term heating demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

The 27-year-old was asked about the mental toll of his long spell out of action.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

“Formal attire requested”? “There will be dancing on the terrace”? “Regrets only”? Then she sighed and put down her pen, for the spell of pretending was broken.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

The council’s discussion followed a story Monday in The Times which detailed how LA28 failed to adhere to the strict annual reporting requirements spelled out in the organization’s 2021 contract with the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

In the 2025 version of its annually updated “AI Safety Governance Framework,” China’s top cyberspace regulator spelled out the threat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Naming a trust as the beneficiary instead, with distribution terms spelled out, gives you far more control over timing and outcome.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

This ambition is spelled out in the new US National Security Strategy, and Rubio, himself of Cuban heritage, is its chief architect.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

Aru spelled out the right response in her head and then shouted it as they walked through the door: “Edur!”

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

The Corona Centennial High football team has an interesting blend of players spelling their similar first names differently, leaving coach Matt Logan to be the referee as to which parents got the spelling correct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

They are not just talking about adding on a few cells here and there, but spelling out a monumental increase in the numbers of people that the country locks up.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Once he was safely in Britain, MI6 shared his intelligence with the CIA, spelling out the full extent of the KGB’s Iranian ambitions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Welcome to the mom chat, a group of 10, 20, 40 near-strangers with varying parenting philosophies, backgrounds, priorities—and spelling capabilities—discussing their most precious gift, their child.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

At least with spelling, the correct answers are always right there on the page.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

For the toast I eat every day: I use spelt polenta bread from Bub and Grandma’s and a polenta Pullman loaf from She-Wolf Bakery, at Canyon and at home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Also, Walsh gets spelt polenta bread from Bub and Grandma’s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

The letter, sent on behalf of the King, spelt out the non-working royal status of Prince Harry and Meghan, who moved back from California with children Archie and Lilibet last month.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

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

In modern English there are two distinct words, ‘human’ and ‘humane’, but in seventeenth-century English there is one word, usually spelt ‘humane’, with two distinct meanings.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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