tell

¹ American  

[tel] / tɛl /

verb (used with object)

told, telling

1. to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.).

   to tell the story of Lincoln's childhood.

   Synonyms:

   report, describe, recount

2. to make known by speech or writing (a fact, news, information, etc.); communicate.

   Synonyms:

   impart

3. to announce or proclaim.

4. to utter (the truth, a lie, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   speak

5. to express in words (thoughts, feelings, etc.).

6. to reveal or divulge (something secret or private).

   Synonyms:

   spill the beans, squeal, confess, avow, admit, own, acknowledge, reveal, expose, disclose, betray, bare

7. to say plainly or positively.

   I cannot tell just what was done.

8. to discern or recognize (a distant person or thing) so as to be able to identify or describe.

   Can you tell who that is over there?

9. to distinguish; discriminate; ascertain.

   You could hardly tell the difference between them.

10. to inform (a person) of something.

    He told me his name.

11. to assure emphatically.

    I won't, I tell you!

12. to bid, order, or command.

    Tell him to stop.

13. to mention one after another, as in enumerating; count or set one by one or in exact amount.

    to tell the cattle in a herd;

    All told there were 17 if we are correct.

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verb (used without object)

told, telling

1. to give an account or report.

   Tell me about your trip.

2. to give evidence or be an indication.

   The ruined temples told of an ancient culture, long since passed from existence.

3. to disclose something secret or private; inform; tattle.

   She knows who did it, but she won't tell.

4. to say positively; determine; predict.

   Who can tell?

5. to have force or effect; operate effectively.

   a contest in which every stroke tells.

6. to produce a marked or severe effect.

   The strain was telling on his health.

7. British Dialect. to talk or chat.

verb phrase

1. tell on to tattle on (someone).

2. tell off

   1. to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.

   2. Informal. to rebuke severely; scold.

      It was about time that someone told him off.

idioms

1. tell it like it is, to tell the complete, unadulterated truth; be forthright.

   He may be crude but he tells it like it is.

tell ² American  

[tel] / tɛl /

noun

1. an artificial mound consisting of the accumulated remains of one or more ancient settlements (often used in Egypt and the Middle East as part of a placename).

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Tell ³ American  

[tel] / tɛl /

noun

1. Wilhelm William Tell.

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tell ¹ British  

/ tɛl /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to let know or notify

   he told me that he would go

2. (tr) to order or instruct (someone to do something)

   I told her to send the letter airmail

3. to give an account or narration (of something)

   she told me her troubles

4. (tr) to communicate by words; utter

   to tell the truth

5. (tr) to make known; disclose

   to tell fortunes

6. to serve as an indication

   her blush told of her embarrassment

7. (tr; used with can, etc; may take a clause as object) to comprehend, discover, or discern

   I can tell what is wrong

8. (tr; used with can, etc) to distinguish or discriminate

   he couldn't tell chalk from cheese

9. (intr) to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain

   every step told on his bruised feet

10. informal to reveal secrets or gossip (about)

    don't tell!

    she told on him

11. (tr) to assure

    I tell you, I've had enough!

12. (tr) to count (votes)

13. dialect (intr) to talk or chatter

14. informal to tell the truth no matter how unpleasant it is

15. to read the time from a clock

16. slang I know that very well

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Tell ² British  

/ tɛl /

noun

1. William, German name Wilhelm Tell. a legendary Swiss patriot, who, traditionally, lived in the early 14th century and was compelled by an Austrian governor to shoot an apple from his son's head with one shot of his crossbow. He did so without mishap

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tell ³ British  

/ tɛl /

noun

1. a large mound resulting from the accumulation of rubbish on a long-settled site, esp one with mudbrick buildings, particularly in the Middle East

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tell More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing tell

• do tell
• kiss and tell
• show and tell
• something tells me
• there's no telling
• thing or two, tell a
• time will tell
• told
• which is which, tell
• you never can tell
• you're telling me

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Other Word Forms

• tellable adjective

Etymology

Origin of tell¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English tellen, tel(le) “to speak, talk, say, mention,” Old English tellan “to tell, relate, count”; cognate with Dutch tellen “to reckon, count,” Old Norse telja “to count, number, say,” Old High German zellēn, German zählen “to count, number”; akin to tale

Origin of tell²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Arabic tall “hillock”

Example Sentences

“I was told early in my career — and I agree with it still to this day — the most important executive skill is hiring well. I think we have done that well here at LAFC.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I was unable to find anything. I opened an Instagram account, told a few friends and it grew from there.”

From Los Angeles Times

“My frustration is because of the family,” Hatami told The Times on Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

“It can only do what you tell it to do,” Malling said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Exxon had told shareholders for years that algae had the potential to change America’s energy future.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• advise
• announce
• confess
• declare
• disclose
• explain
• express
• inform
• instruct
• mention
• notify
• order
• report
• reveal
• say
• speak
• state
• summon