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)

• possess
• curse
• charm
• enchant
• hex
• strike
• bewitch
• seduce

Noun (1)

• curse
• incantation
• sorcery
• invocation
• magic
• enchantment
• conjuration
• abracadabra
• bewitchment

Examples of spell in a Sentence

Verb (1)

it was as if he had spelled the public into believing his ridiculous claims

that summertime combination of hot temperatures and equally hot tempers can spell trouble

Noun (1)

the witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a toad

a dizzy spell that caused me to fall

come rest a spell

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While the jumpstarted discussions among rank-and-file lawmakers could spell the beginning of the shutdown's end, some are skeptical the talks will yield anything concrete. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Aside from the fact that the airport’s name is spelled incorrectly, Carrasco points out, the exterior of the building does not match what the airport actually looks like in real life. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

Arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, Jordan won six NBA championships and five MVP awards during his storied spell with the Chicago Bulls. —Ben Morse, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025

In fact, Kansas had multiple instances of cold shooting spells, allowing Fort Hays State to stay within striking distance. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025

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
• break the spell
• cold spell
• counter-spell
• dry spell
• spell check
• spell-checker
• spell disaster
• spell doom
• spell out
• spell trouble
• under a spell

Rhymes for spell

• bel
• belle
• cel
• cell
• dell
• dwell
• el
• ell
• fel
• fell
• gel
• gell

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