spell out

verb

spelled out; spelling out; spells out
Synonyms of spell outnext

transitive verb

1
: to make plain
spelled out the orders in detail
2
: to write or print in letters and in full
numbers are to be spelled out

Examples of spell out in a Sentence

the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Making use of a patented new mechanism, the Day-Date was the world’s first automatic chronometer featuring both the day of the week spelled out in full as well as the date on the dial. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026 The White House hasn’t spelled out its aims in terms of specific demands, red lines, or the tipping point that might trigger a series of air strikes. John Miller, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026 Scroll through the comments beneath the official Ed Sullivan uploads, and the lineage of K-pop is spelled out in real time. Margaret Heidenry, Vanity Fair, 24 Feb. 2026 Moore has also tried to walk a fine line on the LAFD’s after-action report, which was meant to spell out mistakes and suggest measures to avoid repeating them. Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spell out

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spell out was in 1940

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spell%20out. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

spell out

verb
1
: to make very plain
our duties were spelled out
2
: to write or print in letters and in full

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