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spell

¹

[ spel ]

/ spɛl /

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See synonyms for: spell / spelling / spelt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.

to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): Did I spell your name right?

(of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.): The letters spelled a rather rude word.

to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often followed by out): She painfully spelled out the message.

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

to signify; amount to: This delay spells disaster for us.

verb (used without object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.

to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.: He spells poorly.

to express words by letters, especially correctly.

Verb Phrases

spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.

spell out,

to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable: Must I spell it out for you?
to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed: The title “Ph.D.” is seldom spelled out.

OTHER WORDS FOR spell

5 foretell, portend, mean, promise.

See synonyms for spell on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR SPELL

Why Do Some Words Look Wrong When Spelled Correctly?

Do you ever spell a word you’ve spelled a thousand times only to second guess yourself? Just blame wordnesia!

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of spell

¹

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 spell²

OTHER WORDS FROM spell

spell·a·ble, adjectiveun·spell·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby spell

Speke, spelaean, speleology, speleotherapy, spelk, spell, spellbind, spellbinder, spellbound, spell-check, spell checker

Other definitions for spell (2 of 3)

spell²

[ spel ]

/ spɛl /

noun

a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power; charm; incantation: The wizard cast a spell.

a state or period of enchantment: She was under a spell.

any dominating or irresistible influence; fascination: the spell of fine music.

Origin of spell

²

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 spell¹, gospel

OTHER WORDS FROM spell

spellful, adjectivespell-like, adjective

Other definitions for spell (3 of 3)

spell³

[ spel ]

/ spɛl /

noun

a continuous course or period of work or other activity: to take a spell at the wheel.

a turn of work so taken.

a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring: a spell of coughing.

an indefinite interval or space of time: Come visit us for a spell.

a period of weather of a specified kind: a hot spell.

Australian. a rest period.

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

verb (used with object)

to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel.

Australian. to declare or give a rest period to.

verb (used without object)

Australian. to have or take a rest period.

OTHER WORDS FOR spell

4 while, bit, stretch.

See synonyms for spell on Thesaurus.com

Origin of spell

³

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spell in a sentence

He said everything — community health data, facility preparedness, the staffing situation — spells a return to in-person instruction.
Alexandria City Public Schools sets date for reopening; Arlington refuses to follow suit|Hannah Natanson|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
Thus, many educators reasonably teach a small set of high-frequency, irregularly spelled words as special cases.
Is there really a ‘science of reading’ that tells us exactly how to teach kids to read?|Valerie Strauss|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
Married for a spell to Ellen Barkin, he’s made a few appearances in the tabloids, too.
Gabriel Byrne’s ‘Walking with Ghosts’ is a revelation in unexpected ways|Keith Donohue|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
The rise in demand for flexible office space could also spell a future for repurposed storefronts.
Welcome to the ground floor: street-level offices for a post-pandemic world|Jessica Davies|January 11, 2021|Digiday

I have no doubt Icahn knows all the numbers, but he appears to rely on instincts that tell him, I’ve seen this scenario before, and it always spells trouble.
Investing legends Carl Icahn and Jeremy Grantham see a stock market bubble|Shawn Tully|January 8, 2021|Fortune
“Then I learned he can't spell and is a manager at a CPK,” she said.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After my crying spell stopped, I gritted my teeth, tucked my crutch under my right arm, and turned to my husband.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In order to break the spell and bear children, they must collect four items from the mysterious woods.
Anna Kendrick on Feminism, #GamerGate, and the Celebrity Hacking Attack|Marlow Stern|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A personal favorite is “C Is For Cookie” for guiding me through a 1994 playground debate over how to spell the word.
‘Sesame Street’ Is Middle-Aged and Awesome|Emily Shire|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unless Spotify can figure out how to better pay artists and develop exclusive deals, this could easily spell the end for them.
Taylor Swift Dumps Spotify, Igniting Turf War Between Spotify and Apple|Dale Eisinger|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Finally he shook himself free from the dreamy spell of the place, and turned his face southward again.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
"I just happened to be passin' and thought I'd drop in for a spell," he said, with a profound bow to Mary, who arose to greet him.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Her quiet eyes, held by his during the spell that had bound them speechless, did not flinch at the breaking of it.
Uncanny Tales|Various
Aristide prayed that some Thaïs might come along, cast her spell upon him, and induce him to wink.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
After the first short spell of shelling our men fixed bayonets and lifted them high above the parapet.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for spell (1 of 3)

spell¹

/ (spɛl) /

verb spells, spelling, spelt or spelled

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

(tr) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctlyd-o-g spells dog

(tr) to indicate or signifysuch actions spell disaster for our cause

See also spell out

Derived forms of spell

spellable, adjective

Word Origin for spell

C13: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen

British Dictionary definitions for spell (2 of 3)

spell²

/ (spɛl) /

noun

a verbal formula considered as having magical force

any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination

a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; tranceto break the spell

under a spell held in or as if in a spell

verb

(tr) rare to place under a spell

Word Origin for spell

Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel

British Dictionary definitions for spell (3 of 3)

spell³

/ (spɛl) /

noun

an indeterminate, usually short, period of timea spell of cold weather

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

Scot, Australian and NZ a period or interval of rest

verb

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

spell a paddock NZ to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow

Word Origin for spell

Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with spell

spell

In addition to the idiom beginning with spell

spell out

also see:

cold snap (spell)
under someone's spell

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.