spelled out

verb

past tense of spell out
as in explained
to make plain or understandable the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 spelled out Google assuredly spelled out its reservation of rights to advertise, at a minimum, its own and its affiliates products or services. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Swift’s fans figured out Tuesday that the third letter of each word/term — when rearranged — spelled out Encore. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026 His 122-page indictment, which named Badio and the Colombians among others, spelled out a power grab that also involved people in the president’s circle. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026 Also pictured was a custom chain with Bronze’s name spelled out in diamonds. — Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026 That protocol, however, has not been spelled out in the NCAA’s Instant Replay Case Book. — Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 West Virginia's social studies standards require instruction about 9/11 and its aftermath in sixth grade, eighth grade and high school, with particulars spelled out at each level. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 What detracts from the film is the clumsily emphatic foreshadowing of a dramatic plot turn, which is pretty much spelled out by an alarm company technician who sells Miguel on the wisdom of upgrading to a next-level home security system. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 Speaking to public broadcaster ARD on Sunday night, Siegmund spelled out the policy in more detail. — Esme Nicholson, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spelled out
  1. explained
  2. illustrated
  3. demonstrated
  4. clarified
  5. interpreted
  6. simplified
Verb
  • These systems are exhibiting group behaviors that cannot be explained as a swarm.
    — Michael Morris, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In the lead-up to 2035, Hallmark explained the marque will focus on cars with ICE powertrains.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of explained
Verb
  • The boomer’s reckoning Voeste grew up in Dortmund, the coal-and-steel city whose fate has long illustrated the dangers of clinging to an industrial past after its economics have changed.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This is well illustrated at Dia Beacon, where the sculpture Relatum (formerly System), 1969, sits near two paintings both titled With Winds, 1991.
    — Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of illustrated
Verb
  • The researchers demonstrated tasks containing as many as 12 steps without providing additional demonstrations for those longer sequences.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In Lepecki’s account, the gesture again demonstrated that stillness in dance always vibrates with subtle motion.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrated
Verb
  • Clifton then clarified that the fan remained in the arena and was not ejected.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office said previously that details would be clarified at the hearing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of clarified
Verb
  • Some online fans have interpreted her facial expressions as disappointment upon learning her pair was safe.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • With no instruction telling her otherwise, the system interpreted this framing as authorization to assume the human role.
    — Terry Oroszi, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of interpreted
Verb
  • Grayscale, minimalist launchers, app blockers and simplified home screens all help.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Emmie Finckel’s scenic design, like the musical itself, overdetails what could work more effectively if simplified.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of simplified

Browse Nearby Words

spelled
spelled out
speller
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spelled out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spelled%20out. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All