told
ˈtōld 
; telling
; telling
1
2
3
a
: to give information to : inform
tell us about your job
b
: to assure emphatically
they did not do it, I tell you
5
: to find out by observing : recognize
you can tell it's a masterpiece
1
: to give an account
an article telling of her experience
2
: to tell someone (such as a parent or other person of authority) about what someone else has done
—often used with on
I'll get even with you if you ever tell on me—
Inside Detective
Inside Detective3
: to serve as evidence or indication
4
: to have a marked effect
the pressure was beginning to tell on him
plural tells
1
: an inadvertent behavior or mannerism that betrays a poker player's true thoughts, intentions, or emotions
The World Series of Poker: earth's greatest liars gathered together with millions of dollars on the line … . It's a blur of action, but the educated spectator ignores these distractions and focuses on the players' mannerisms—it's all part of the science of tells, reflexes a player can't control that, read right, give away his thoughts.—Seth Stevenson
Seth Stevenson2
: a revealing gesture, expression, etc., that is likened to a poker player's tell
But his eyes darted fractionally to one side as he said it …; the classic liar's tell.—Stephen King
Stephen King
broadly
: sign, indication
I talked to staffers who said that their bosses had two or three flights booked getting out of town, a big tell that there was not going to be a deal. —Kelly O'Donnell
Kelly O'Donnell Examples of tell in a Sentence
Verb
He told us the story.
Has she told you the good news, yet?
Please tell us your name and occupation.
She looked at the palm of my hand and told me my fortune.
If you see her, tell her hello for me.
“I feel sick,” he told his mom.
“What is his name?” “I don't know. He didn't tell me.”
“Who is the letter from?” “I'm not telling.”
I promise not to tell anyone.
I can't tell you because it's a secret.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Market sources tell us the film’s budget is being pegged north of $150M. The film stars Jesse Plemons, Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, and McKenna Grace.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 May 2025
Nora and Madeline, meanwhile, aren’t as well developed, but then again, they’re both entirely preoccupied throughout with trying to understand what on earth is going on in this creepy house, what their mothers aren’t telling them and why.
—Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
Earlier this week, there were people in a shelter telling us about this mother, and she’s still got some bread left, or she’s still got some flour left.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The unlikely hit comedy, which tells a deranged alternative history of Mary Todd Lincoln, has attracted high-profile celebrity audience members including Dua Lipa, Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, and Steven Spielberg.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Market sources tell us the film’s budget is being pegged north of $150M. The film stars Jesse Plemons, Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, and McKenna Grace.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 May 2025
Nora and Madeline, meanwhile, aren’t as well developed, but then again, they’re both entirely preoccupied throughout with trying to understand what on earth is going on in this creepy house, what their mothers aren’t telling them and why.
—Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
Earlier this week, there were people in a shelter telling us about this mother, and she’s still got some bread left, or she’s still got some flour left.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell
Cite this Entry
“Tell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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