tell

verb

ˈtel How to pronounce tell (audio)
Definition of tellnext
1
as in to describe
to give an oral or written account of in some detail they told the story of how they had met

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2
as in to say
to express (a thought or emotion) in words just tell us what is in your heart

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to count
to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?

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4
as in to inform
to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to instruct
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority told us to sit still and wait

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to reveal
to make known (as information previously kept secret) I won't tell your secret to anyone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb tell differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of tell are betray, disclose, divulge, and reveal. While all these words mean "to make known what has been or should be concealed," tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

Where would betray be a reasonable alternative to tell?

While in some cases nearly identical to tell, betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

When would disclose be a good substitute for tell?

The words disclose and tell can be used in similar contexts, but disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

When might divulge be a better fit than tell?

Although the words divulge and tell have much in common, divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

In what contexts can reveal take the place of tell?

The meanings of reveal and tell largely overlap; however, reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tell Hamilton told the media that the upcoming movie, slated for release on June 25 (June 27 for North America), has all the necessary ingredients to become a huge success. — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025 The coroner also told ABC 27 that the fetus would not have survived outside of the womb. — Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025 The male also told the dispatcher that the woman was not breathing. — CBS News, 15 Mar. 2025 Rekha Sharma-Crawford, a partner at Sharma-Crawford Attorneys at Law who represents several individuals who were detained, told The Star that her team should have a disposition on the last person in custody soon. — Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell
  1. describe
  2. say
  3. count
  4. inform
  5. instruct
  6. reveal
  7. narrate
  8. talk
Verb
  • The report describes increases in applications, not students, so can be skewed by students applying to a greater number of colleges.
    — Scott White, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Asked to describe his game, Odeyingbo didn’t hesitate, needing just one word: relentless.
    — Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of describe
Verb
  • Doherty says Cooper — who makes his acting debut in the series — impressed her.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025
  • However, sources say the new project is decidedly on the horror track.
    — Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of say
Verb
  • Murder victim's family has been 'counting down the minutes' until South Carolina execution Texas pastor with simple dream killed in his own church.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
    — Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of count
Verb
  • Discussions around changing West Ada’s classroom display policy in 2022 were informed by this new law, with content neutrality seen as a way to prevent bias — or accusations of bias — in schools.
    — Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Informed Consent: Clients should be fully informed about what micro-therapy can and cannot provide.
    — Dominique Fluker, Essence, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of inform
Verb
  • My thought was interrupted when Bayes instructed us to laugh very hard.
    — Priscilla Posada, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Students were later allowed back into their halls of residence, but were instructed to avoid the university's Engineering Key area.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of instruct
Verb
  • The final moments of the episode also reveal that the parasitic alien Sequids are still roaming the sewers, the bloodthirsty Battle Beast is alive in space and Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) survived the Invincible War.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Ree Drummond reveals that the countdown is on for her daughter Paige Drummond's nuptials!
    — Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of reveal
Verb
  • Additionally, Balcer wrote, co-directed and produced several documentaries, including 2017’s Above the Drowning Sea, narrated by Julianna Margulies and Tony Goldwyn, which told the epic story of thousands of Austrian Jews who escaped the Holocaust and found refuge in Shanghai.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Her titular character, Meredith Grey, still narrates episodes, and Pompeo serves as an executive producer.
    — Elizabeth Stanton, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of narrate
Verb
  • She's laid off most of her staff and is talking with a realtor about selling the organization's office building.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Not one person talked to me about it—not Vince, not Hunter, no one from the office.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of talk

Phrases Containing tell

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Cite this Entry

“Tell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tell

Nglish: Translation of tell for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tell

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