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

The penalty issued in July related to McInnes' spell as Hearts boss last season, when he described the decision to award Celtic a late penalty at Motherwell in May as "disgusting".

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

That message applied to his goalkeepers - Sanchez and number two Mike Penders, 21, who is waiting to make his debut after returning from a successful loan spell at Strasbourg.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

A number of Keegan's former players from this memorable first spell in charge of Newcastle, between 1992 and 1997, were also at the game.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

This rollout also comes at the same time Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg sits on trial over child safety concerns, specifically on Instagram, which could spell huge changes to the app in the near future.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

I stared at the barn for a spell.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

But requiring your grandchildren to pass a financial-literacy class needs to be spelled out clearly, Landivar said.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

Instead, every decision is quoted based on specific guidelines spelled out in the preservation plan, which was drafted and approved by Sunset Square residents.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

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

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

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

She had read in the library about that musician—his name was pronounced with an a and spelled with double e.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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

From her clothing store on the high street, she has distributed official-looking signage spelling out exactly where to park and for how long without risking a ticket.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

That indicates that the person is not particularly tuned in to the proper spelling of the word, or that they didn't do a close edit of what they wrote, Eggington explains.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

The ticket was purchased through United Airlines, but the flight was operated by Air Canada, and it proved very challenging to get a new ticket printed with the correct name spelling, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

I started studying for my spelling test the very next day, Tuesday, which was two days before I normally started.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

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

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

So far, the protesters have not spelt out their demands apart from rallying under the broader anti-corruption call.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2025

But his sister Lowri spotted one problem with the tattoo - it was not spelt correctly.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025

But my name was on the envelope, and spelt correctly, an unusual thing.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

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