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 reports in the last two years failed to spell out the companies that received contracts of $1 million or more and the amounts of those deals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Five of them, in fact, across a nine-year spell that saw Real Madrid dominate Europe's showpiece competition.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Agencies would have to spell out application requirements up-front and could not make repeated requests for more information or project changes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Former England international Anita Asante started her coaching career after hanging up her boots, including a spell with Bristol City in WSL 2.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

His mouth opens and closes a few times and I think he’s going to, I think he’s going to say it, but then the moment passes, the spell breaks.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

In the case of a beneficiary demanding more money, that would be spelled out in the trust documents.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

The policy is spelled out on a sign in the entryway and on the restaurant’s handwritten menus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 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

It has also not ruled out backing reform proposals but has not spelled out what specific plans it could support.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

It was easy enough to ignore the rivalries and suspicions among Europe’s great powers that spelled trouble ahead.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Giles Mason, who runs the Take 5 to Stop Fraud campaign at UK Finance which represents the banking and finance industry, said scam emails used to be "riddled with spelling mistakes, poor grammar".

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 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

Quirky sentences, spelling errors and grammar mistakes used to be clues of overseas scams — but AI now makes the pitches sound conversational, Lee said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026

But worry not, even a viewer who doesn’t know who Blanchard is can surmise this correlation to the bigger picture thanks to Schoenbrun quite literally spelling it out for us.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Besides, watching a mouse in a maze was more fun than social studies or spelling.

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

The King spelt out the cornerstones: there had to be support for Nato, "keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries".

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 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

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

A second operation in May last year could have spelt the end of Cilic's career.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2025

“All right, you can hear this, it’s for all of you. It’s time someone spelt it out.”

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

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