spell

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈspel 

spelled ˈspeld  ˈspelt  ; spelling

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to name the letters of in order

also : to write or print the letters of in order

(2)

: to write or print the letters of in a particular way

b

: to make up (a word)

What word do these letters spell?

c

: write sense 1b

Catnip is spelled as one word.

2

: to add up to : mean

crop failure was likely to spell stark famine

—Stringfellow Barr

3

: to find out by study : come to understand

—often used with out

it requires some pains to spell out those decorations

—F. J. Mather

4

: to read slowly and with difficulty

—often used with out

intransitive verb

: to form words with letters

teach children to spell

also : to spell words in a certain way

spells the way he speaks

spell

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

a

: a spoken word or form of words held to have magic power

b

: a state of enchantment

2

: a strong compelling influence or attraction

spell

3 of 5

verb (2)

ˈspel 

spelled ˈspeld  ; spelling

transitive verb

: to put under a spell

spell

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

a

: an indeterminate period of time

waited a spell before advancing

also : a continuous period of time

did a spell in prison

b

: a stretch of a specified type of weather

2

: a period of bodily or mental distress or disorder

a spell of coughing

fainting spells

3

a

: a period spent in a job or occupation

b

chiefly Australia : a period of rest from work, activity, or use

4

a

: one's turn at work

b

archaic : a shift of workers

spell

5 of 5

verb (3)

spelled ˈspeld  ; spelling

transitive verb

1

: to take the place of for a time : relieve

we spell each other every two hours

2

: rest

intransitive verb

1

: to work in turns

2

chiefly Australia : to rest from an activity for a time

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bewitch
• charm
• enchant
• ensorcell
• ensorcel
• hex
• overlook
• strike

Noun (1)

• abracadabra
• bewitchment
• charm
• conjuration
• enchantment
• glamour
• glamor
• hex
• incantation
• invocation
• whammy

Examples of spell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Someone who, having woken from Trump’s spell, would cast aside their fear and old grievances to send the political equivalent of the Rohirrim sweeping into the battle to save Middle-earth. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Eventually, Alex reversed the spell and kept her status as the family wizard due to her loyalty to her best friend Harper, who was dating Zeke Beakerman when the series ended. —Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024

Both hospitals were surrounded by Israeli forces for prolonged spells earlier this year. —Lauren Izso, Abeer Salman and Tim Lister, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024

The castle measures nearly 2 feet tall, and the unique open-back design is ripe for magic spells and fun. —Maya Polton, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024

But, that reality check aside, the spell cast by Triplett’s story is so strong that potential holes in logic barely dent its surface and definitely don’t weaken its hold. —Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024

Next week, there’s a strong signal for another spell of unseasonably mild weather, with highs flirting with 70 degrees. —Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024

Others seemed modest, enchanted only by the spell of our attention. —Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024

China has been battling an extended spell of deflation, with consumer prices flatlining or falling in recent months. —Hanna Ziady, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024

Verb

That could spell danger with La Niña coming The only other Colorado State outlooks to predict this many hurricanes were mid-season forecasts in August 2005 and 2020 – which ended up being the two most-active Atlantic seasons on record. —Ritu Prasad, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024

The 49ers are still seeking a second tight end to pair with George Kittle and spell him at times. —Michael Nowels, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024

This is a toy that's perfect for kids just learning letters and numbers as well as more advanced children beginning to learn how to spell. —Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024

Effectively, the rule appears to spell the end of exclusively single-family zoning — long a sacred cow in suburban Miami and the rest of the country — across unincorporated Miami-Dade. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024

The most recent example was in June, when more than 8,000 subreddits went dark to protest changes that effectively spelled the end of third-party Reddit apps. —Chris Velazco, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024

Understaffed clinics, unsafe protocols, and even human error can all spell disaster, as a Bloomberg investigation found. —Ruthie Ackerman, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024

Avoid these to stand out (and don't forget to spell check). —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 4 Mar. 2024

This spells more trouble for Bangladesh, which is firmly on the frontlines of the climate crisis. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, to mean, signify, read by spelling out letters, from Anglo-French espeleir, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English spellian to relate, spell talk

Noun (1)

Middle English, talk, tale, from Old English; akin to Old High German spel talk, tale

Noun (2)

probably alteration of Middle English spale substitute, from Old English spala

Verb (3)

Middle English spelen, from Old English spelian; akin to Old English spala substitute

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Noun (1)

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Verb (3)

1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing spell

• be/mean/spell curtains for
• cold spell
• counter-spell
• dry spell
• break the spell
• spell check
• spell out
• spell trouble
• under a spell
• spell doom
• spell disaster
• spell-checker

Kids Definition

spell

1 of 5 noun

ˈspel 

1

a

: a spoken word or form of words believed to have magic power

b

: a state of enchantment

2

: a very strong influence or attraction

spell

2 of 5 verb

: to put under a spell : bewitch

spell

3 of 5 verb

spelled ˈspeld  ; spelling

: to take the place of for a time : relieve

if we spell each other we won't get tired

spell

4 of 5 verb

spelled

ˈspeld,

ˈspelt

; spelling

1

a

: to name, write, or print the letters of in order

b

: to be the letters of

"c-a-t" spells "cat"

2

: to amount to : mean

what you do could spell the difference between life and death

that usually spells trouble

spell

5 of 5 noun

1

: one's turn at work or duty

2

: a period spent in a job or occupation

3

a

: a short period of time

b

: a stretch of a specified type of weather

a hot spell

4

: a period of bodily or mental distress or disorder : attack, fit

a spell of coughing

fainting spells

Etymology

Noun

Old English spell "talk, tale"

Verb

Old English spelian "to take the place of, relieve"

Verb

Middle English spellen "to mean, signify, read by spelling out letters," from early French espeleir (same meaning); of Germanic origin

Noun

probably an altered form of Old English spale "a substitute"; the spelling probably influenced in Middle English by the similar word spelen "to substitute for, relieve"

Medical Definition

spell

noun

ˈspel 

: a period of bodily or mental distress or disorder

a spell of coughing

fainting spells