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
Relevance
2
as in says
to express (a thought or emotion) in words
just tell us what is in your heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
4
as in informs
to give information to
tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in instructs
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
told us to sit still and wait
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in reveals
to make known (as information previously kept secret)
I won't tell your secret to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tells
Rose tells Shaw that her community is concerned about sacred remains being disturbed.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
In this intimate portrait of life during the exhilarating early days of the women’s liberation movement in Scandinavia in the 1970s, Pernille Ipsen tells the stories of the seven women who raised her, who were all part of the women’s movement in Denmark.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Snow — who plays Nile's wife, Nina — tells PEOPLE that she was thrilled to work with actors of such caliber whom she's long admired.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
This link was completely unintentional, Trachtenberg tells Entertainment Weekly.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
That film tells the true story of an Istituto Luce cameraman who filmed Mussolini and fascist propaganda, and, eventually, the head of communist Albania.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Eilert is soon drunk and distraught over seemingly losing his manuscript, and Hedda tells her ex-lover to kill himself.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Father Mother Sister Brother tells the story of estranged siblings who reunite after years apart and are forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
In this intimate portrait of life during the exhilarating early days of the women’s liberation movement in Scandinavia in the 1970s, Pernille Ipsen tells the stories of the seven women who raised her, who were all part of the women’s movement in Denmark.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Snow — who plays Nile's wife, Nina — tells PEOPLE that she was thrilled to work with actors of such caliber whom she's long admired.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
This link was completely unintentional, Trachtenberg tells Entertainment Weekly.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
That film tells the true story of an Istituto Luce cameraman who filmed Mussolini and fascist propaganda, and, eventually, the head of communist Albania.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Eilert is soon drunk and distraught over seemingly losing his manuscript, and Hedda tells her ex-lover to kill himself.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
Father Mother Sister Brother tells the story of estranged siblings who reunite after years apart and are forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells
Verb
-
And, at the end of each chapter, the book describes how the evidence on each phenomenon has evolved and strengthened in the years since the original columns.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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Miller's nomination describes her as having maintained great fortitude and excellent disposition, talent and character.—
Kenya Anderson,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Boals Moeller says the recent AI breakthrough is no different.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
People with a nonfunctioning ANGPTL3 gene — which Natarajan says applies to about 1 in 250 people in the US — have lifelong levels of low LDL cholesterol and triglycerides without any apparent negative consequences.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
What began as a few hundred mourners swelled into a community that today counts nearly 20,000 members.—
David Hudnall,
Kansas City Star,
11 Nov. 2025
-
While Microsoft has gotten the necessary approvals to ship advanced Nvidia chips, G42 — which counts Microsoft as an investor and Smith as a board member — is still waiting.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Michelle reflected on how both of her parents instilled confidence in her from a young age which unquestionably informs her style sensibility to date.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
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Unfortunately, Devnan soon informs Sarah and her parents that there’s no oil on her land.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In another building, a teacher instructs a class on how to bend metal electrical conduits.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
-
He is whisked away from a charity basketball event to his Air Force One, where Lieutenant Commander Robert Reeves (Jonah Hauer-King) hands him the Black Bag and instructs him to choose which retaliatory strike option to approve.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Inside the mule, California shearling brings warmth while a semi-transparent gum sole reveals the ERL logo beneath.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The resulting internal split within the Democratic Party reveals a high-stakes debate about legislative priorities, political strategy, and the practical impacts of government closures nationwide.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Thiongʼo novel in verse which recounts the Gikuyu creation story.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
One story of the Desert Fathers recounts a sighting of a demon perched on the top of the monastery, busily scribbling down all the faults of the brothers within.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Across fiction, documentary, and hybrid forms, these filmmakers are building a cinema that speaks first to themselves, and, in doing so, to everyone else.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
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Marina Abramović speaks to the audience during a post-show discussion following a performance of Masquerade in New York City.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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