adjective
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having a marked effect or impact
a telling blow
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revealing
a telling smile
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of telling
Explanation
Something that's telling is either significant,or it reveals information. Getting twice as much allowance will have a telling effect on your ability to buy new books. When it comes to economics, a telling indicator of a country's state is how much money its citizens spend each month. And you can see that a movie has had a telling effect on its audience if it leaves them all weeping. If you reveal something without meaning to, that's telling as well: "The look on his face was telling." This adjective dates from the mid-1800s, from the verb tell and its sense of "to reveal or disclose."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Keep that up for another month, and good luck telling him someone else is starting the All-Star Game.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026
In the comments, many call the couple mum and dad, telling them about their lives and asking for birthday blessings.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
“You keep telling yourself, ‘Move forward and find ways to just go’.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Araghchi urged caution, telling Iranian state media that until a complete agreement was reached on all issues, "it cannot be said with certainty that an understanding has been achieved".
From Barron's • Jun. 13, 2026
“You can, but that’s beside the point. You’re telling me he never said sorry for nearly getting her killed?”
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
