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
An episode featuring Brody’s real-life wife Leighton Meester tries to fill in some backstory blanks, as does an episode that spells out how Joanne’s parents’ divorce impacted her.
—
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
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
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
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells out
Verb
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But as Lilly explains to Ronnie, telling the truth now won’t do anything to absolve Hank — everyone already thinks Lilly is crazy.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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At the train station when Kelley is about to depart, Howie explains his backstory to keep Kelley from leaving.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The work accomplished at Silent Swarm 2025, along with technology such as the TEEMS device, illustrates how the company is architecting the advantage for today’s performance and tomorrow’s success along the tactical edge.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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In a novel that is so alert to where climate change is leading the world, a narrative frame that illustrates migration as linear and largely redemptive feels anachronistic.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But the resulting blow-by-blow account neither clarifies much about what was going through their minds nor brings them to life as characters.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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Legislators passed a law in 2024 that essentially specifies emotional support animals are not service dogs and clarifies that a dog must be trained or is being trained to perform tasks or work for a person with a disability is allowed.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Blending fun and function in consumer robotics Baby FuFu demonstrates a wider trend in consumer robotics, where usability and approachability take precedence over complexity.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
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Duwaji demonstrates that style can be commentary, an extension of thought, and a deliberate act of agency.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spells out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells%20out. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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