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

You can’t spell pain without AI, but it’s way too soon to say that Thursday’s record tech stock carnage is some sort of cyclical turning point.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Now, 151 years after Pacheco’s spell as governor, Xavier Becerra puts his Mexican lineage front and center: his mother born in Jalisco, and his father born in Sacramento and raised in Tijuana.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Western officials have declined to spell out the rules of engagement if any international troops were to be attacked in Ukraine.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

He scored twice in 22 games for Everton last season during a loan spell which was cut short by injury.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

To put a temporary spell on a bakehouse would be well within her capacity for mischief.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

High early turnout among Black voters in the state also spelled trouble for Graham.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2026

The former Iraqi president -- himself a one time refugee -- spelled out the bleak situation while opening UNHCR's annual executive committee meeting, which runs until Friday.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

It appears that Tarik El Guindy is a judge and media personality for worldwide bodybuilding competitions, including the Mr. Olympia contest, though he uses the slightly differently spelled first name Terrick in that space.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

“Our last names are actually spelled differently. But who knows, we might be! I do love singing!”

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

The 90-second video, uploaded to Instagram by content creator Ed Choi, was shot Sunday at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, where Raman held a rally spelling out her plan for her first 100 days as mayor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

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

Meta is reassuring potential Musers by spelling out “first-of-its-kind privacy, safety, and security protections,” including “Sentinel” agents to approve each Muse agent’s work.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 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

Calista asked when she was showing me some more art tricks on Thursday, after we both got sick of studying spelling flash cards.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 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

The exit poll also spelt bad news for the GreenLeft-Labour party of former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans, who had long been second in the polls and is now set to come fourth.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025

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

“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

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