as in to explain
to make plain or understandable
the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spell out
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
Marcus noted that the interplay between medical therapies and plaque progression has not been fully spelled out.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell out
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
Marcus noted that the interplay between medical therapies and plaque progression has not been fully spelled out.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell out
Verb
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If a concept just doesn’t make sense, try explaining it out loud to a friend.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
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During the launch event, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu explained that solving charging anxiety is essential for wider EV adoption.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The chasm between some top Democrats and AIPAC is illustrated by their respective statements on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
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This enduring love is illustrated (literally) in the Margesherwood X Peanuts collaboration.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The guidance followed an investigation into then-Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who had been accused of violating the agency’s selective disclosure rules through a Facebook post, an incident that ultimately led the SEC to clarify how companies could use social platforms to share material information.—
Rachel Ventresca,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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The order clarified a regulation that has existed since Israel’s founding.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To demonstrate the district attorney’s alleged bias, the motion highlighted the examination of witness John Richardson, a Loyola Marymount University student from the Bay Area who was among the 13 arrested in 2024 but later entered a youth diversion program after pleading no contest.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Matthews demonstrated the level of depth UCLA has leaned on throughout the season.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell%20out. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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