tell

1 of 3

verb

ˈtel 

told ˈtōld  ; telling

transitive verb

1

a

: to relate in detail : narrate

told the whole story to us

b

: to give utterance to : say

could never tell a lie

2

a

: to make known : divulge, reveal

don't tell your password

b

: to express in words

She never told her love …

—William Shakespeare

3

a

: to give information to : inform

tell us about your job

b

: to assure emphatically

they did not do it, I tell you

4

: order, direct

told me to wait

5

: to find out by observing : recognize

you can tell it's a masterpiece

6

: count, enumerate

… tell the stars, if thou be able to number them …

—Genesis 15:5 (King James Version)

intransitive verb

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 knew I'd be in trouble if I didn't follow. Not that Will would ever tell on me …

—Edward Abbey

3

: to serve as evidence or indication

4

: to have a marked effect

the pressure was beginning to tell on him

tell

2 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtel 

plural tells

1

: an inadvertent behavior or mannerism that betrays a poker player's true thoughts, intentions, or emotions

All serious poker players try to minimize tells, obviously. There are a couple ways to go about this. One is the robotic approach: where your face becomes a mask and your voice monotone …

—Dan Harrington, quoted in San Antonio Express News

2

: 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

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

tell

3 of 3

noun (2)

: hill, mound

specifically : an ancient mound in the Middle East composed of remains of successive settlements

Synonyms of tell

Verb

• describe
• narrate
• recount
• relate
• chronicle

Choose the Right Synonym for tell

reveal, disclose, divulge, tell, betray mean to make known what has been or should be concealed.

reveal may apply to supernatural or inspired revelation of truths beyond the range of ordinary human vision or reason.

divine will as revealed in sacred writings

disclose may imply a discovering but more often an imparting of information previously kept secret.

candidates must disclose their financial assets

divulge implies a disclosure involving some impropriety or breach of confidence.

refused to divulge an anonymous source

tell implies an imparting of necessary or useful information.

told them what he had overheard

betray implies a divulging that represents a breach of faith or an involuntary or unconscious disclosure.

a blush that betrayed her embarrassment

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

Verb

And, of course, Amherst had freed Black people, and I was told that there were Black people who were working for the family outside of the house, in the fields and gardens. —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

For his part, Musk told analysts on Tesla’s earnings call last month that the proposal is more about making sure he can’t be sidelined. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025

Now in her 90s, Riddick recalled the early days of the Pumpkin Roll, when the event wasn't officially sanctioned by the city and someone at the bottom of Midland Road would tell people by radio whether there was oncoming traffic on Kavanaugh or not. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025

Peacock previously told The Charlotte Observer his fundraising efforts during the 2025 campaign brought in more money in a shorter period of time than any of his previous campaigns. —Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English tellan; akin to Old High German zellen to count, tell, Old English talu tale

Noun (2)

Arabic tall

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 6

Noun (1)

1974, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1840, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tell

• as far/near as I can tell
• (as) near as someone can tell/figure
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• can't begin to tell you
• dead men tell no tales
• don't tell me
• I can't tell you
• I couldn't tell you
• (I/I'll) tell you what
• I tell a lie
• kiss-and-tell
• (only) time will tell
• pray tell
• show-and-tell
• tell a different story
• tell against
• tell-all
• tell apart
• tell it like it is
• tell me
• tell me about it
• tell of
• tell off
• tell on
• tell right from wrong
• tell someone where to get off
• tell the difference
• tell the time
• tell the whole world
• tell time
• to tell the truth
• to tell (you) the truth
• what did I tell you
• who can tell

Rhymes for tell

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

Kids Definition

tell

verb

ˈtel

told

ˈtōld

; telling

1

: count entry 1 sense 1a, enumerate

2

a

: to describe in detail : narrate

tell a story

b

: to give an account

an article telling of her experience

c

: say entry 1 sense 1a, utter

tell a lie

3

a

: to make known : reveal

tell a secret

b

: to express in words

can't tell you how pleased we are

4

: to give information to : inform

tell me as soon as the package gets here

5

: order entry 1 sense 2a, direct

told us to wait

6

: to find out by observing

can tell the child is honest

7

: to act as a tattletale

tell on a cheater

8

: to have a noticeable effect

the pressure began to tell on them

9

: to be evidence of : indicate

smiles telling of success