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

His first loan spell in 2023 at the age of 23 started with a red card in his first game.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

I felt like we needed to put a spell on the world, so that the world would love us.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

As this next spell of hot weather develops across England and Wales, the lack of significant rain means dry ground and low soil moisture levels are likely to become an increasing concern.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

He won league and cup silverware during that spell but supporters will still harbour concerns about his ability to win big as a manager.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

He needed a big open space where he could take large sticks and spell out H-E-L-P.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

The desire of the French government and companies to lead joint defense projects has sometimes spelled the plans’ demise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

But Scatchard was spelled incorrectly, and her search failed.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Mary Ziegler, a professor at the UC Davis School of Law and an expert on American parental rights laws, said the ruling was “arguably significantly more extensive than the Supreme Court has spelled out.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

The film’s message is clear, even spelled out by characters: Devices force kids to grow up too fast.

From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026

As Mr. Sedaris I made it a point to type up a poorly spelled evaluation of each submitted story.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Last week, the family was traveling to Montreal but was initially unable to board their flight because one of his daughters had a problem with the spelling of her name on her ticket.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

In Bucharest, where he arrived in 1945, Paul Antschel became Paul Celan, the new name an anagrammatic rebirth from the Romanian spelling of “Ancel.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

Children across the United States have participated in spelling bees with the hopes of making it to the national contest since 1925, according to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

Try our spelling bee below to see how you stack up.

From BBC ● May 28, 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

However, in his victory speech, he spelt out his vision for Hungary as a country "where no-one is stigmatised for thinking differently than the majority, or loving differently than the majority".

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 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

Absent from the stamps is original member Brian McFadden, who spelt his name Bryan during his time with the band.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 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