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

---

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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

spell Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing spell

• cold snap (spell)
• under someone's spell

---

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

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

Long-range forecasts issued by the Met Office show that the UK was more likely to see a stormy start to winter, followed by a colder spell to end winter.

From BBC ● 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

The midfielder returned to the club for a second loan spell this season but had only made six appearances before falling out of favour.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

“Sorry, poppa! I’ve been meaning to tell you. There’s a little spell on your almanac. In Romanian it’s called . . . well, in Romanian, it’s complicated. Loosely translated, it’s the other-sock spell.”

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 word "LYON" had been spelled out on the ground with candles.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

Limits on the trust could be spelled out elsewhere, including in its own governing documents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

They had no official uniforms, but wore helmets of various kinds from army surplus stores, motorcycle shops and hard-hat construction sites, each bearing a small silver decal with “Sheriff’s posse” spelled out in black letters.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman

It takes Romi Loffler about half an hour to write a sentence, spelling it out one letter at a time by blinking.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Asked for a comment on what the correct spelling should be, Logan replied, “Which one?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 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

A trust gives you more control by spelling out your wishes in detail.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

“I expect you to get a perfect score on your next spelling test, Albie.”

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

The letter, sent on behalf of the King, spelt out the non-working royal status of Prince Harry and Meghan.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 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

Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own name.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---