spelling out

verb

present participle of spell out
as in explaining
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 spelling out Existing plans must also mail every enrollee an Annual Notice of Change around the same time, spelling out exactly what that person’s premium, deductible and covered drugs will look like in January. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The court's judgment says only that the university's request to dismiss the case was granted, without spelling out the judge's reasoning in that document. — CBS News, 30 July 2026 After a court filing spelling out the agreement came during the last hour of trading on Wall Street, shares in Paramount added to what was already a lackluster day. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 July 2026 The motion was denied, and in the early hours of June 13, the center removed the letters spelling out the president’s name. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026 The doctor has a right to contest these before a health law judge or the commission issues a final order spelling out any disciplinary action or dropping the case. — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026 The two sides still have to finalize agreements spelling out the services that will be provided at each venue by July 2027. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 Coupal initially stood his ground, but later issued a letter spelling out terms for the eventual agreement. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 After a day of legal maneuvers and thunderstorms, workers began the process in the early morning hours of removing the letters spelling out the Republican president’s name from the facade of the iconic performing arts venue. — Steven Sloan, Fortune, 13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spelling out
  1. explaining
  2. illustrating
  3. clarifying
  4. demonstrating
  5. getting across
Verb
  • Their background needs explaining, and there is less internal precedent for what success looks like.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Creighton jokes, explaining that making the film accessible to people is far more interesting to her than some sort of contrived celebrity impact campaign.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of explaining
Verb
  • Vulture podcast critic Nicholas Quah rounds up the year’s best and most interesting podcasts, with an eye toward illustrating broader shifts in the new-media landscape.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Spanos prioritize employee legacy and community over a sale, illustrating why such valuable independent firms are often the hardest to acquire.
    — Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustrating
Verb
  • Check the route, reread the message, or ask the clarifying question.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
  • There is a common assumption that AI closes the gap by summarizing meetings, clarifying requirements and translating jargon.
    — Nik Froehlich, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of clarifying
Verb
  • Its technical documentation is being shared with other African countries, demonstrating how battery storage can stabilize fragile grids against future climate impacts.
    — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Over 100 landowners have denied power company surveyors access to their property, again demonstrating Maryland’s tenacity against harmful development which, frankly, no one asked for.
    — Adrianne Fantasia, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of demonstrating
Verb
  • For getting up the hill and getting across the flatter sections.
    — Outside Online, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The issue has been discussed within Congress for years and has received bipartisan support, but obstacles have repeatedly stopped the effort from getting across the finish line.
    — Jared Gans, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2025
Definition of getting across

Browse Nearby Words

spelling
spelling out
spell out
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Cite this Entry

“Spelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spelling%20out. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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