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 lengthy bill spells out those restrictions.
—
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
The health secretary has started a $50 million autism research initiative, and health agencies have shuttered webpages that spelled out the risks of therapies that aren’t supported by evidence and often have dangerous side effects.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 19 Mar. 2026
Does that spell out anything in the predictive tea leaves?
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
This is the idea spelled out in loop quantum gravity, or in causal sets.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell out
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
The health secretary has started a $50 million autism research initiative, and health agencies have shuttered webpages that spelled out the risks of therapies that aren’t supported by evidence and often have dangerous side effects.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 19 Mar. 2026
Does that spell out anything in the predictive tea leaves?
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
This is the idea spelled out in loop quantum gravity, or in causal sets.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spell out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell out
Verb
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Using a synesthetic logic all his own, Torres explains why Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson is orange, Catholicism is purple, and navy blue is the nefarious color that secretly runs the world.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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For an overview of small business tax responsibilities, see IRS Publication 583, which explains general filing and recordkeeping requirements.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The war in Iran and bottleneck in the Strait of Hormuz is further illustrating the need to integrate newer tools into modern warfare.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the interview, Warsh illustrated this with a story from 2006, when he was nominated to the Fed’s Board of Governors and sought advice from former chair Paul Volcker.—
Paul Wachtel,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If a client presentation collides with family plans, clarify expectations early and ask for support where needed, then show leadership by offering a fair, workable path.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
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At that time, Netflix adjusted its terms to state that contract terms could one day change due to technological, security, or regulatory needs, to clarify clauses, or to provide changes to the service, Il Sole 24 Ore reported.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Union League, in contrast, was for those who could demonstrate their commitment to the national cause, and its clubhouse quickly became a place to get the latest news from the Southern battlefields.—
Michael Gorra,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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When lyrics reference the specific facts of an alleged crime, and prosecutors can demonstrate they were intended as literal statements, not artistic expression — that evidence remains admissible.—
Ivan J. Bates,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell%20out. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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