tell
1to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.): to tell the story of Lincoln's childhood.
to make known by speech or writing (a fact, news, information, etc.); communicate.
to announce or proclaim.
to utter (the truth, a lie, etc.).
to express in words (thoughts, feelings, etc.).
to reveal or divulge (something secret or private).
to say plainly or positively: I cannot tell just what was done.
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?
to distinguish; discriminate; ascertain: You could hardly tell the difference between them.
to inform (a person) of something: He told me his name.
to assure emphatically: I won't, I tell you!
to bid, order, or command: Tell him to stop.
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.
to give an account or report:Tell me about your trip.
to give evidence or be an indication: The ruined temples told of an ancient culture, long since passed from existence.
to have force or effect; operate effectively: a contest in which every stroke tells.
to produce a marked or severe effect: The strain was telling on his health.
British Dialect. to talk or chat.
tell off,
to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.
Informal. to rebuke severely; scold: It was about time that someone told him off.
tell on, to tattle on (someone).
Idioms about tell
tell it like it is, Informal. to tell the complete, unadulterated truth; be forthright: He may be crude but he tells it like it is.
Origin of tell
1Other words for tell
Other definitions for tell (2 of 3)
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).
Origin of tell
2Other definitions for Tell (3 of 3)
Wil·helm [vil-helm]. /ˈvɪl hɛlm/. William Tell.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use tell in a sentence
And Air Force assessors are the first to say such imaging never tells the whole story.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTheir immediate response tells an important truth about a police slowdown that has spread throughout New York City in recent days.
Yazbek tells The Daily Beast that the traffickers guarantee their service, and they treat the Syrian refugees with respect.
“We went on to Tramp…He was the most hideous dancer I had ever seen,” she tells the Mail.
When Marvin tells this story, he gets quiet, and you can see the way it must have been.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
It is a lofty and richly-decorated pile of the fourteenth century; and tells of the labours and the wealth of a foreign land.
My mother now tells me that she knew of this mistake, an error of the New York paper in copying the item from a Southern journal.
The Boarded-Up House | Augusta Huiell SeamanI saw Cardinal de Giovenozzo this morning; and he tells me that Wharton has disappeared.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterA verbal narrative has of course in itself nothing similar to the scenes and events of which it tells.
Children's Ways | James SullyHe tells me several men have already been shot whilst bathing but there is no use trying to stop it: they take the off chance.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton
British Dictionary definitions for tell (1 of 3)
/ (tɛl) /
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to let know or notify: he told me that he would go
(tr) to order or instruct (someone to do something): I told her to send the letter airmail
(when intr, usually foll by of) to give an account or narration (of something): she told me her troubles
(tr) to communicate by words; utter: to tell the truth
(tr) to make known; disclose: to tell fortunes
(intr often foll by of) to serve as an indication: her blush told of her embarrassment
(tr; used with can, etc; may take a clause as object) to comprehend, discover, or discern: I can tell what is wrong
(tr; used with can, etc) to distinguish or discriminate: he couldn't tell chalk from cheese
(intr) to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain: every step told on his bruised feet
(intr sometimes foll by on) informal to reveal secrets or gossip (about): don't tell!; she told on him
(tr) to assure: I tell you, I've had enough!
(tr) to count (votes)
(intr) dialect to talk or chatter
informal, mainly US to tell the truth no matter how unpleasant it is
tell the time to read the time from a clock
you're telling me slang I know that very well
Origin of tell
1- See also tell apart, tell off
Derived forms of tell
- tellable, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for tell (2 of 3)
/ (tɛl) /
a large mound resulting from the accumulation of rubbish on a long-settled site, esp one with mudbrick buildings, particularly in the Middle East
Origin of tell
2British Dictionary definitions for Tell (3 of 3)
/ (tɛl) /
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with tell
In addition to the idioms beginning with tell
- tell apart
- tell a thing or two
- tell it like it is
- tell it to the Marines
- tell me
- tell off
- tell on
- tell someone where to get off
- tell tales
- tell time
also see:
- do tell
- kiss and tell
- show and tell
- something tells me
- there's no telling
- thing or two, tell a
- time will tell
- which is which, tell
- you never can tell
- you're telling me
Also see undertold.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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