tell
verb (used with object)
to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.).
had told
-
past perfectof tell.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One former Kremlin official even quipped to me, after I had told him I was working on this book, “You know, I’m just glad that Putin has made you financially better off, at least.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
I wanted to know if cryptocurrency actually offered a solution to the kinds of disastrous inflation and economic disenfranchisement the people I’d met had told me about.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
Claypool alleged that two of the siblings had told the school that their brother Isaiah was at home and not able to go to school.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Bloomberg reported that Saudi officials had told at least two European customers that they wouldn’t receive crude deliveries next month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
I kept thinking, though, that this was not anything like how Mama and Daddy had told me school was going to be, and I believed that was not a good sign.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
