tell

tell

verb

Definition of TELL

1

to give an oral or written account of in some detail <they told the story of how they had met>

Synonyms chart, chronicle, describe, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate, report

Related Words deliver, give, reel off, state, utter, voice; detail, enumerate, itemize, particularize; bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal; delineate, depict, express, render, sketch

Phrases set forth

2

to express (a thought or emotion) in words <just tell us what is in your heart>

Synonyms articulate, bring out, enunciate, pass, speak, state, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize

Related Words air, discuss, give, look, share, sound, vent, ventilate, voice; blabber, bolt, blurt, get off, shoot; advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish; affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow; breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, splutter, spout, whisper; clothe, couch, formulate, formulize, phrase, put, word; comment, pipe up (with), remark; rip (out), snarl

Near Antonyms stifle, suppress

3

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?>

Synonyms enumerate, number, tell

Related Words add (up), tally, total; calculate, compute, reckon, table, tabulate; check, mark, tick (off); recount

4

to give information to <tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?>

Synonyms acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up)

Related Words advertise, alert, notify; announce (to), disclose (to); assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant; educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor; disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceive

Near Antonyms misinform, mislead

5

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority <told us to sit still and wait>

Synonyms adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, direct, enjoin, instruct, order, tell

Related Words ask, petition, request; beg, beseech, entreat; advise, counsel, warn; appoint, assign, authorize, commission; oversee, superintend, supervise; conduct, control, lead, manage; coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require

Near Antonyms comply (with), follow, keep, observe

Antonyms mind, obey

6

to make known (as information previously kept secret) <I won't tell your secret to anyone>

Synonyms bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, let on (about), spill, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Related Words confide, share; debunk, show up; unclothe, undrape; advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound; betray, blab, give away, leak; inform, squeal, talk; communicate, impart, relate; acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own; disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth

Near Antonyms camouflage, disguise; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

Antonyms cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil