spell out
verb
spelled out; spelling out; spells out
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
Synonyms
Examples of spell out in a Sentence
the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man
Recent Examples on the Web
Jobs with erratic or traditionally late work hours (like legislative staffers or newspaper reporters) would still be allowed to be contacted, provided that employers clearly spell out non-contact hours in worker contracts, or else compensate on-call time.
—
Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
The act spells out limitations on how debt collectors can try to collect household debt, as well as consumers’ protection from harassment and other abusive collection practices.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
His plan was to spell out his name vertically across multiple floors, a job that took at least four hours.
—Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
The exception is spelled out in the Washington Treaty, the document that established NATO in 1949, a decade before Hawaii became a state.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Finally, spell out the output, including format and style.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Documents from 2006 spell out what happens at the end.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024
Hur’s conclusion, as spelled out in his report, was ultimately not that Biden’s memory is actually failing (or abnormal for a man his age).
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
Starting in July, sellers will no longer have to spell out a commission for the buyer's agent.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 22 Mar. 2024
Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
The act spells out limitations on how debt collectors can try to collect household debt, as well as consumers’ protection from harassment and other abusive collection practices.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
His plan was to spell out his name vertically across multiple floors, a job that took at least four hours.
—Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
The exception is spelled out in the Washington Treaty, the document that established NATO in 1949, a decade before Hawaii became a state.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
Finally, spell out the output, including format and style.
—Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Documents from 2006 spell out what happens at the end.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024
Hur’s conclusion, as spelled out in his report, was ultimately not that Biden’s memory is actually failing (or abnormal for a man his age).
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
Starting in July, sellers will no longer have to spell out a commission for the buyer's agent.
—Scott Horsley, NPR, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spell out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spell out
Cite this Entry
“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spell%20out. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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