Synonyms of tells

tells

verb

present tense third-person singular of tell

1

as in describes

to give an oral or written account of in some detail

they told the story of how they had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

• describes
• recounts
• narrates
• relates
• chronicles
• reports
• recites
• details
• depicts
• charts
• sets forth
• reveals
• states
• voices
• rehearses
• discloses
• expresses
• gives
• utters
• enumerates
• exposes
• delivers
• divulges
• itemizes
• renders
• delineates
• reels off
• particularizes
• bares
• sketches
• lets on (about)

2

as in says

to express (a thought or emotion) in words

just tell us what is in your heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

• says
• speaks
• utters
• talks
• discusses
• shares
• articulates
• announces
• states
• gives
• verbalizes
• puts
• publishes
• shouts
• enunciates
• brings out
• vocalizes
• passes
• proclaims
• affirms
• declares
• looks
• whispers
• asserts
• puts into words
• posts
• voices
• advertises
• blurts
• sounds
• alleges
• publicizes
• ventilates
• promulgates
• airs
• formulates
• avers
• breathes
• avows
• words
• gets off
• broadcasts
• chirps
• murmurs
• blabbers
• mouths
• gasps
• drawls
• remarks
• comments
• shoots
• blazes
• vents
• lips
• spouts
• purrs
• clothes
• snarls
• phrases
• bolts
• rips (out)
• pipes up (with)
• formulizes
• splutters
• avouches
• couches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppresses
• stifles

3

as in counts

to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added

who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• counts
• computes
• calculates
• enumerates
• numbers
• checks
• recounts
• adds (up)
• tables
• tabulates
• tallies
• marks
• reckons
• totals
• ticks (off)

4

as in informs

to give information to

tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• informs
• advises
• instructs
• teaches
• briefs
• educates
• notifies
• apprises
• enlightens
• familiarizes
• acquaints
• clues (in)
• clears
• alerts
• fills in
• verses
• convinces
• catches up
• hips
• reassures
• assures
• advertises
• lets someone know
• wises (up)
• keeps (someone) posted
• discloses (to)
• announces (to)
• lectures
• certifies
• schools
• warrants
• tutors
• disabuses
• disillusions
• disenchants
• undeceives

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misleads
• misinforms

5

as in instructs

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

told us to sit still and wait

Synonyms & Similar Words

• instructs
• asks
• orders
• commands
• directs
• begs
• advises
• warns
• enjoins
• bosses (around)
• bids
• requires
• appoints
• adjures
• requests
• charges
• compels
• authorizes
• beseeches
• entreats
• assigns
• petitions
• obliges
• supervises
• forces
• leads
• manages
• counsels
• oversees
• controls
• constrains
• conducts
• coerces
• superintends
• commissions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follows
• minds
• obeys
• observes
• keeps
• complies (with)

6

as in reveals

to make known (as information previously kept secret)

I won't tell your secret to anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reveals
• discloses
• discovers
• uncovers
• announces
• exposes
• divulges
• shares
• unveils
• unmasks
• spills
• bares
• brings to light
• confides
• lets on (about)
• proclaims
• publishes
• leaks
• goes public (with)
• informs
• declares
• acknowledges
• confesses
• advertises
• spills the beans (about)
• unbosoms
• uncloaks
• lets the cat out of the bag (about)
• relates
• betrays
• debunks
• admits
• owns
• promulgates
• imparts
• publicizes
• unearths
• communicates
• posts
• concedes
• brings out
• shows up
• talks
• blabs
• sounds
• broadcasts
• gives away
• avows
• unclothes
• blazes
• undrapes
• squeals
• rakes up
• smokes out
• disinters
• placards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• covers (up)
• conceals
• hides
• masks
• enshrouds
• cloaks
• camouflages
• disguises
• shrouds
• veils
• obscures
• glosses (over)
• gilds
• overshadows
• darkens
• varnishes
• eclipses
• whitewashes
• shades
• beclouds
• clouds
• overcasts
• bedims
• befogs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tells

Before dinner, Nathan tells her about the new anchor watch schedule. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026

An acquaintance who buys and sells movie props tells them that the boots are worth at least fifteen hundred dollars—a tenfold return on their investment. — David Owen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Related Stories Sitting in a Lower East Side hotel bar, the duo tells Variety the idea originated as a joke. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

As Kanter tells it, Sky owner Michael Alter alerted arena security that the former Boston Celtics and New York Knicks big man had suspiciously used a courtside ticket that wasn’t purchased in his name. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

As Cohan tells it, the entire Walking Dead team was very aware of how folks might feel about Maggie moving on from Glenn (Steven Yeun) — which isn’t even the right way to look at it, according to Cohan. — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Rich Bornstein, founder of Bornstein Media, helps leaders discover and clarify their story before AI, or anyone else, tells it for them. — Rich Bornstein, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

As Levine tells it, the couple gave the bot a selfie and their seat numbers. — Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2026

The character is a man of few words, which is understandable after an opening shot of him weeping over a large gravestone with two smaller ones beside it tells us how much he’s lost. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026