spells out

verb

present tense third-person singular of spell out
as in explains
to make plain or understandable the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 spells out The deal also spells out that any footage generated by AI will be under a director’s control. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 26 June 2026 The agreement spells out sanctions relief for Iran and calls for the creation of a $300 billion economic development fund. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 June 2026 The agreement says the US will issue waivers allowing Iran to export oil and spells out provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, among other measures. — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 Each piece spells out a message—happiness, beauty, and magnificence—in the ancient pictorial writing. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 The remainder of the letter spells out multiple allegations, which Tufty contests. — Eric Adler june 4, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026 In most cases, the deceased names an executor in their will, a document that spells out what should happen to their assets after death. — James Malm, The Conversation, 1 June 2026 Driving the Conversation Mina Kimes spells out success For my money, the smartest on-air talent in sports media is ESPN’s Mina Kimes. — Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 27 May 2026 The consent decree spells out the back pay 26 workers will get for work they should have been paid between 2019 and 2023. — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spells out
  1. explains
  2. illustrates
  3. clarifies
  4. demonstrates
Verb
  • Sprouse explains that Wade is a British television presenter who hosts shows about aquatic animals with names like Dark Waters, Mighty Rivers, and River Monsters.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026
  • Creatine is a natural compound that your body produces and uses for energy, Basbaum explains.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 July 2026
Definition of explains
Verb
  • One case in particular illustrates what can happen when questions arise about the information that’s provided to board members and other stakeholders concerning new corporate leaders.
    — Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Hurtado’s experience illustrates the chaos that, according to relatives of the deceased deportees and a forensic medicine expert, marked the handling of bodies after the earthquakes.
    — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Definition of illustrates
Verb
  • Garcia quickly clarifies that her living arrangement was a little different.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
  • As for what, perhaps, soba noodles with edamame and mushrooms have to do with Pablo Picasso, or why Salvador Dali gets an unexpected dessert course of a white chocolate potato souffle, Beshir clarifies the goal of the evening.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of clarifies
Verb
  • The concern about the latest reorganization also demonstrates how unclear the ultimate scope of the upcoming moves still are – even to people close to and inside the agency.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • The series demonstrates that AI video quality hinges on creator skill, not just the technology.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of demonstrates

Browse Nearby Words

spells
spells out
spence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spells out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spells%20out. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulcrum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All