tell
tell
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "tell" is /tɛl/.
/tɛl/
Word Form Variations
Verb: tell (base form), tells (3rd person singular present), telling (present participle), told (past tense, past participle)
Noun: tell (rare, usually in specific contexts like "tell-all")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To communicate information, knowledge, or a story to someone verbally or in writing.
Synonyms: inform, relate, narrate, recount, state, declare, disclose, reveal
Antonyms: conceal, withhold, hide, keep secret
Definition 2: To order or instruct someone to do something.
Synonyms: instruct, order, command, direct, bid, advise
Antonyms: ask, request, plead (depending on nuance)
Definition 3: To be able to determine, discern, or distinguish something, often through observation or experience.
Synonyms: discern, distinguish, differentiate, determine, identify, recognize
Antonyms: confuse, overlook, miss, misunderstand
Definition 4 (often used with "on"): To have a noticeable or significant effect, especially a negative one, on someone or something.
Synonyms: affect, impact, weigh on, take a toll on, wear on
Antonyms: benefit, improve, enhance, uplift
Noun
Definition 1 (rare): A characteristic or behavior that subtly reveals a person's true intentions, emotions, or what they know, especially in poker or other games.
Synonyms: giveaway, sign, indicator, clue, tip-off
Antonyms: concealment, disguise, facade
Examples of Use
Books:
"There's something about a soldier," says the Widow. "Even in peacetime. You can always tell a soldier." (Marilynne Robinson, Gilead, 2004)
"Every family has a story to tell, and ours is no different." (Tara Westover, Educated, February 2018)
Newspapers:
"Experts tell us that inflation is beginning to cool, but many consumers are still feeling the pinch." (The Wall Street Journal)
"The local council is holding a meeting tonight to tell residents about the new housing development." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Can you tell the difference between real and fake news?" (CNN.com)
"New research continues to tell us more about the long-term effects of climate change." (National Geographic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (Dialogue): "Don't tell me you forgot the tickets again!" (From a common sitcom trope)
Film (Title): Tell No One (French thriller film, 2006)
Music (Lyrics): "I can't tell you why, but I know it's true." (From a popular song lyric)
Podcasts: "Our guest today will tell us about their journey into entrepreneurship." (From a business podcast, December 2024)
Video Games (Dialogue): "The ancient texts tell of a hidden treasure." (From a role-playing game)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you tell me the time?" (Common everyday question)
"I can tell you're tired; you should get some rest." (Observation to a friend)
"They didn't tell us about the road closure until we got there." (Complaint about lack of information)
"Time will tell if these new policies are effective." (Common idiom)
10 Quotes Using Tell
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth." (Oscar Wilde)
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." (Mark Twain)
"A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." (Robin Williams)
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" (Mary Oliver)
"Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." (George Orwell)
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." (Henry Adams)
"Power is like being a lady... if you have to tell people you are, you aren't." (Margaret Thatcher)
"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." (Plato)
"I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie." (H. L. Mencken)
Etymology
The word "tell" has a fascinating history, stretching back through several stages of language development!
It comes from Old English "tellan," which actually had a slightly different main meaning than our "tell" today. In Old English, "tellan" primarily meant "to count, reckon, or enumerate." Think of it like counting sheep or tallying up numbers. You can still see a remnant of this in words like "teller" (someone who counts money at a bank) or phrases like "all told" (meaning "when everything is counted").
Over time, this sense of "counting" evolved into "mentioning things in order" or "giving an account of something." This is how it started to pick up the meaning of "to narrate" or "to relate a story," which became more common around the year 1000.
By the early 12th century, it expanded further to mean "to make known by speech or writing," covering all sorts of communication. Later on, around the late 14th century, it developed the sense of "to discern or distinguish," as in "I can tell the difference." The meaning of "to order or instruct someone" came into use in the late 16th century.
So, in a nutshell, "tell" started out meaning "to count," then broadened to "to give an account," and eventually encompassed all the ways we use it today to communicate, instruct, or discern.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Tell
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "tell":
Tell a story: To narrate an account of events.
Tell a lie: To intentionally state something untrue.
Tell the truth: To state facts accurately.
Tell apart: To distinguish between two or more similar things.
Tell off: To scold or reprimand someone.
Tell on (someone): To inform an authority figure about someone's wrongdoing.
Tell tales: To gossip or spread rumors, often about others' misdeeds.
To tell you the truth: An idiom used to introduce an honest statement.
You can never tell: Expressing uncertainty about future events or outcomes.
Time will tell: Indicating that the truth or outcome of something will only be revealed in the future.
Tell-all: Revealing all the facts, often sensational or scandalous ones. (Used as an adjective, e.g., a "tell-all book")
Tell it like it is: To speak frankly and directly, without embellishment.
Tell me about it! An exclamation showing strong agreement or empathy with someone's complaint or experience.
Tell me another (one)! An expression of disbelief, implying the speaker thinks someone is lying or exaggerating.
To tell the time: To be able to read a clock or watch.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of tell from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
