spell out

verb

Definition of spell outnext
as in to explain
to make plain or understandable the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of spell out Follow up with a pre-arrival note that spells out arrival logistics and the Wi-Fi password. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026 Users were likely restricted from properly spelling out such words because, by design, the platform prevents emoji from being used more than once in reaction to a post. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 But for the moment, in a state that’s now among the Democratic nominating calendar’s earliest to vote, his campaign served as a vehicle for Ocasio-Cortez to spell out more ambitious policy than a single candidate’s platform. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Altman later spelled out why OpenAI would welcome safety requirements for frontier AI labs. — Sasha Tuddenham, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spell out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell out
  1. explain
  2. illustrate
  3. clarify
  4. demonstrate
Verb
  • For next year’s admissions, institutions would have to publish more detailed selection criteria and explain rejections when applicants request reasons.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Chatbots can also explain complex topics in new ways and condense an overwhelming amount of information into a simple summary.
    — Robin Brewer, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • All three pairs will come in custom illustrated Ronnie Fieg for Timberland packaging and will include alternate shoelace options.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • More in Out of Pocket, Out of Reach Americans’ disdain for the health insurance system was vividly illustrated nearly two years ago in the reactions to the killing of health insurance executive Brian Thompson.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of illustrate
Verb
  • Supreme Court Justice Zanin later clarified the decision is valid for wherever polls were still open.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Test results should help clarify whether its propulsion system and modular design can deliver the range and flexibility L3Harris promises.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of clarify
Verb
  • Cases like Duckett’s demonstrate why that uncertainty is justified.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Toward more natural prosthetic movement The work builds on earlier research by the MIT team, which demonstrated magnetomicrometry in animal models in 2021.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrate

Browse Nearby Words

spelling out
spell out
spells
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Cite this Entry

“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell%20out. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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