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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Anne Irfan explains how the 1956 Israeli occupation of Gaza informs the present and future.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Gaia explains that the Merlot vineyards planted almost 30 years ago no longer offer the consistency necessary to produce their top end wine.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The anecdote also illustrates a leadership philosophy Weeks has maintained throughout his tenure.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
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Pacific transit route The family’s experience illustrates how Ecuador has become a critical route in the cocaine trade.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Liu clarifies that despite being published under a Japanese pseudonym, Terao Tetsuya, the author is Taiwanese.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
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Proposition 410 asked voters to ratify language that clarifies language on mayoral term limits.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Despite states’ commitments to protect the rights of journalists to carry out their work freely and safely, the lack of action by states demonstrates an alarming and deeply dangerous failure by the international community to uphold the rule of law when violations occur.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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What’s next Our research demonstrates that policy-level solutions work.—
Anthony Bald,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spells out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells%20out. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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