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
As Tom tells Robbie to put his gun down, the screen goes black.
—
Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 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, 5 Oct. 2025
The president recognizes these problems, White House officials tells CNN, and has increased pressure on his administration to address them urgently.
—Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
The truth is, anybody that tells you they 100% know what this offense will look like without Tyreek Hill is lying.
—Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
However, Kerr tells EW that those early wins were actually much more violent than what's shown onscreen.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
No, the girls have to match, or come up with a costume concept that tells a whole story.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 4 Oct. 2025
Deep breathing exercises help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body to rest and digest.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 4 Oct. 2025
As evident in her comment section, Amy tells PEOPLE the reviews for his results have been mixed.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 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, 5 Oct. 2025
The president recognizes these problems, White House officials tells CNN, and has increased pressure on his administration to address them urgently.
—Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
The truth is, anybody that tells you they 100% know what this offense will look like without Tyreek Hill is lying.
—Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
However, Kerr tells EW that those early wins were actually much more violent than what's shown onscreen.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
No, the girls have to match, or come up with a costume concept that tells a whole story.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 4 Oct. 2025
Deep breathing exercises help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body to rest and digest.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 4 Oct. 2025
As evident in her comment section, Amy tells PEOPLE the reviews for his results have been mixed.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells
Verb
-
That is exactly how Google describes the tool in Gemini.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Tomlinson, who went on to spend parts of four seasons in the NHL, describes Sullivan as a team-first, selfless player.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
History says that negotiating process ahead isn't likely to be easy.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
However, this year, the full moon will be in early October, EarthSky says.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Everything that counts in a great travel shoe can be found in these Go Walk Arch slip-on sneakers—they’re light, breathable, durable, and versatile.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Ivankoe’s enthusiasm for the stock counts him among a minority of analysts covering Brinker International.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This algorithm then informs what appears in playlists, such as Discover Weekly and Blend, as well as what appears on your Home page.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Why chemical agents matter The choice of chemical agent informs the scale of carbon removal.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The alert also instructs any residents of Hugine Suites, who are not currently in the dormitory, to report to Smith–Hammond–Middleton Memorial Center, an Orangeburg arena.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
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The email obtained by NPR instructs employees working on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to avoid using about a dozen words and phrases, many of which are central to their work.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the final moments, a flashback reveals that a baby (Elliot) is left on Del and Colton's (Jefferson Brown) doorstep just after the birth of their daughter.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Trailer footage reveals tension that seriously ramp-up between Grace and Jackson in their rural home, including shots of Lawrence’s character wondering through an open field with a shotgun, laughing maniacally.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Both a personal coming-of-age story and a snapshot of a transformative era in music and nightlife, the book recounts the elite record producer’s early years, unpacking how his upbringing and family life informed his tastes, ambitions, and eventual path into DJing in ’90s NYC.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Taylor Swift recounts driving on Nashville thoroughfares during her high school days with a good friend.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Roberts likens miners’ struggles to biblical stories, references the power of God and the teachings of Jesus, and speaks in the dynamic cadences found in an Appalachian church.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The result, according to Sergio DellaPergola, a demographer and emeritus professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem who has spent his career studying migration to and from Israel, is a net migration deficit that speaks to a wider disorientation in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attacks.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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