tell

[ tel ]

/ tɛl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tell ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), told, tell·ing.

to 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.

verb (used without object), told, tell·ing.

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 disclose something secret or private; inform; tattle: She knows who did it, but she won't tell.

to say positively; determine; predict: Who can tell?

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.

Verb Phrases

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 for 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

before 900; Middle English tellen, Old English tellan to relate, count; cognate with Dutch tellen to reckon, count, Old Norse telja to count, say, Old High German zellēn; akin to tale

SYNONYMS FOR tell

1 recount, describe, report.

2 impart.

4 speak.

6 disclose, betray; acknowledge, own, confess; declare.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tell ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby tell

telic, telidon, teliospore, telium, telkom, tell, tell a thing or two, tell apart, tell el amarna, tell it like it is, tell it to the marines

Definition for tell (2 of 3)

tell ²

[ tel ]

/ tɛl /

noun

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 place name).

Origin of tell

First recorded in 1860–65, tell is from the Arabic word tall hillock

Definition for tell (3 of 3)

Tell

[ tel ]

/ tɛl /

noun

Wil·helm

[vil-helm] /ˈvɪl hɛlm/. William Tell.

Example sentences from the Web for tell

As far as I can tell, this magazine spent as much time making fun of French politicians as it did of Muslims or Islam.

Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire |Lloyd Grove |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
One bystander said he was told to tell the media that they were from al Qaeda in Yemen, or al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

France Mourns—and Hunts |Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
“Jeffrey wanted me to tell you that you looked so pretty,” the female voice said into my disbelieving ear.

I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 |Vicky Ward |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
They were going to tell their story, consequences be damned.

I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 |Vicky Ward |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

And I tell Ollie, just look at me, because they just pulled out the pistolas.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
"I think, when I see her, I will tell her all about my Lizzie," he said.

The Incomplete Amorist |E. Nesbit
I cannot tell you exactly what she felt when she saw Nino from her lofty window, but she was certainly glad with her whole heart.

A Roman Singer |F. Marion Crawford
I tell you that this business is not going to end thus, that we must be avenged.

The Downfall |Emile Zola
But when Kaku sought Merytra to tell her the glad tidings that she was his, he could not find her.

Morning Star |H. Rider Haggard
Hide it not for my help, for my honour, but tell me, Lest my time and thy time be lost days and confusion!

Poems By The Way & Love Is Enough |William Morris

British Dictionary definitions for tell (1 of 3)

tell ¹

/ (tɛl) /

verb tells, telling or told

(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

Derived forms of tell

tellable, adjective

Word Origin for tell

Old English tellan; related to Old Saxon tellian, Old High German zellen to tell, count, Old Norse telja

British Dictionary definitions for tell (2 of 3)

tell ²

/ (tɛl) /

noun

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

Word Origin for tell

C19: from Arabic tall

British Dictionary definitions for tell (3 of 3)

Tell

/ (tɛl) /

noun

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

Idioms and Phrases with tell

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.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tell

verb (used with object), told, tell·ing.

verb (used without object), told, tell·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for tell

Origin of tell

SYNONYMS FOR tell

Words nearby tell

Definition for tell (2 of 3)

noun

Origin of tell

Definition for tell (3 of 3)

noun

Example sentences from the Web for tell

British Dictionary definitions for tell (1 of 3)

verb tells, telling or told

Derived forms of tell

Word Origin for tell

British Dictionary definitions for tell (2 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for tell

British Dictionary definitions for tell (3 of 3)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with tell

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tell

verb (used with object), told, tell·ing.

verb (used without object), told, tell·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for tell

Origin of tell

SYNONYMS FOR tell

Words nearby tell

Definition for tell (2 of 3)

noun

Origin of tell

Definition for tell (3 of 3)

noun

Content related to tell

Words related to tell

Example sentences from the Web for tell

British Dictionary definitions for tell (1 of 3)

verb tells, telling or told

Derived forms of tell

Word Origin for tell

British Dictionary definitions for tell (2 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for tell

British Dictionary definitions for tell (3 of 3)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with tell