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 mammoth defense bill spells out Pentagon policy in the months and years ahead.
—
Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Oct. 2025
But a chat message from Washington to a colleague, released to KUOW and ProPublica last week through a public records request, spells out additional reasons for turning down Daugaard’s proposal.
—Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2025
One of the highest annual tides of the year is on Wednesday, and the offshore winds blown in from this disturbance, plus all of the rain, likely spells out more flooding for South Floridians.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Guardiola referenced the length spells out with ACL injuries for Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal and Barcelona teenager Marc Bernal as a reason to get the pacing of Rodri’s recovery right.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, the federal law governing the military justice system, spells out how such cases are prosecuted.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
The script, by Tipping, Zack Akers, and Skip Bronkie, spells out the movie’s aims in big, cheerleading letters.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
When full, its unique design spells out a cheeky potty word.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Under the new rules, buyers are required to sign a buyer representation agreement that spells out the fee structure and services before touring homes.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2025
Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Oct. 2025
But a chat message from Washington to a colleague, released to KUOW and ProPublica last week through a public records request, spells out additional reasons for turning down Daugaard’s proposal.
—Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2025
One of the highest annual tides of the year is on Wednesday, and the offshore winds blown in from this disturbance, plus all of the rain, likely spells out more flooding for South Floridians.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Guardiola referenced the length spells out with ACL injuries for Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal and Barcelona teenager Marc Bernal as a reason to get the pacing of Rodri’s recovery right.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, the federal law governing the military justice system, spells out how such cases are prosecuted.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2025
The script, by Tipping, Zack Akers, and Skip Bronkie, spells out the movie’s aims in big, cheerleading letters.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
When full, its unique design spells out a cheeky potty word.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Under the new rules, buyers are required to sign a buyer representation agreement that spells out the fee structure and services before touring homes.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells out
Verb
-
The below-ground theme park, as historian Ashleigh Androsoff explains, offers tours purporting to tell two local stories.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Star Andrew Garfield explains why the characters make things worse for themselves.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gatsby simply couldn’t have existed without Long Island, and the prominence of the novel’s location was noted from the day of publication, as Anne Margaret Daniel illustrates in her article on the author and his relationship with the New Yorker magazine.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
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The footage illustrates the easy trust and solidarity among the various parents, who appeared to have a tacit agreement that the neighborhood more or less belonged to the kids.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Proposition 411 clarifies the city manager’s role.—
Maritza Dominguez,
AZCentral.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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The script never changed, Cregger clarifies.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The scene demonstrates Courtney’s capacious approach to metaphor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Sierra Club’s report demonstrates that state and federal desires to keep the coal industry afloat is reflected in local utility decision making.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spells out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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