as in explains
to make plain or understandable
the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man
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Recent Examples of spells out
The lengthy bill spells out those restrictions.
—
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Seeing the wall police breached to give people inside the club a chance to get out, or the bathrooms and dressing rooms where people hid, prayed for survival or reached out to family and friends carries an impact that spells out this nation’s terrifying vulnerability to gun violence.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
The Trent Windsurfing Club near Nottingham, England, which communicates with members using both WhatsApp and email, spells out other considerations in a 15-point list on its website.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The order spells out the exact amount of money that each of the 106 women are owed.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Xi spells out yuan reserve currency goal China’s leader called for the yuan to become a global reserve currency, part of Beijing’s efforts to play a larger role in international financial systems.
—semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
City Council President Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5th, authored the ordinance, expected to be approved Tuesday, that spells out the funding framework for the project.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
An extreme cold watch in Iowa spells out the dangerous conditions for the days ahead.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026
Texas law spells out when the state can step in if a school district struggles for too long to meet academic or leadership standards.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Seeing the wall police breached to give people inside the club a chance to get out, or the bathrooms and dressing rooms where people hid, prayed for survival or reached out to family and friends carries an impact that spells out this nation’s terrifying vulnerability to gun violence.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
The Trent Windsurfing Club near Nottingham, England, which communicates with members using both WhatsApp and email, spells out other considerations in a 15-point list on its website.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The order spells out the exact amount of money that each of the 106 women are owed.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Xi spells out yuan reserve currency goal China’s leader called for the yuan to become a global reserve currency, part of Beijing’s efforts to play a larger role in international financial systems.
—semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
City Council President Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5th, authored the ordinance, expected to be approved Tuesday, that spells out the funding framework for the project.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
An extreme cold watch in Iowa spells out the dangerous conditions for the days ahead.
—Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 21 Jan. 2026
Texas law spells out when the state can step in if a school district struggles for too long to meet academic or leadership standards.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells out
Verb
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That distinction naturally explains why Saturn's rings are composed almost entirely of water ice, with very little rock, the study notes.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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Fig, meanwhile, has drunk the Kool-Aid entirely, Shipp explains.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The phenomenon illustrates how misinformation can multiply after a viral moment, spreading what can seem to be harmless narratives that are made harder to verify in the age of AI.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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As my diagnostic experience illustrates, many of us are told that memory changes are normal aging and that pushing for answers is unnecessary.—
Shon Lowe,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Trimmer understands that a strategic delay is not procrastination, but a patient wait until the situation clarifies itself.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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The plan approved Tuesday clarifies that the school board can consider two renamings in one year, up from the previous guidance of limiting renamings to one per year, Bagula said.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Return demonstrates that the group anticipated and debated some of those same concerns in songwriting sessions and meetings with company execs at Big Hit Music and HYBE.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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Lastly, Rebouças demonstrates her gratitude for two key partners in Globoplay and leading Brazilian production banner Conspiração.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spells out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells%20out. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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