tell


Definition: Meaning of, tell in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / tɛl /

  • verb
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  • antonym
Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
tell told told
Present Participle Third Person Singular
telling tells
  1. communicate something [transitive] if someone tells you something, they communicate information, a story, their feelings etc to you
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  2. show something [transitive] to give information in ways other than talking
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  3. what somebody should do [transitive] to say that someone must do something
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  4. know [intransitive,transitive not in progressive] to know something or be able to recognize something because of certain signs that show this
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  5. recognize difference [transitive not in progressive] to be able to see how one person or thing is different from another
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  6. tell yourself something to persuade yourself that something is true
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  7. warn [transitive usually in past tense] to warn someone that something bad might happen
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  8. tell somebody about bad behaviour [intransitive] informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done - used especially by children [=  tell on somebody]
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  9. tell tales British English to say something that is not true about someone else, in order to cause trouble for them - used especially about children
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  10. all told altogether, when everyone or everything has been counted
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  11. affect [intransitive not in progressive] to have an effect on someone, especially a harmful one
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  12. tell the time British English American English to be able to know what time it is by looking at a clock
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  13. spoken I/I'll tell you what also tell you what used when you are suggesting or offering something
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  14. spoken I/I'll tell you what also tell you what American English used in order to emphasize what you are really saying
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  15. spoken to tell (you) the truth used to emphasize that you are being very honest
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  16. spoken I can tell you/I'm telling you used to emphasize that what you are saying is true even though it may be difficult to believe
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  17. spoken tell me used before asking a question
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  18. spoken I told you so used when you have warned someone about a possible danger that has now happened and they have ignored your warning
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  19. spoken I'll tell you something/one thing/another thing also let me tell you something/one thing/another thing used to emphasize what you are saying
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  20. spoken you can tell him from me used to ask someone to tell another person something, when you are annoyed or determined
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  21. spoken I couldn't tell you used to tell someone that you do not know the answer to their question
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  22. spoken I can't tell you used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret
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  23. spoken I can't tell you used to say that you cannot express your feelings or describe something properly
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  24. spoken don't tell me used to interrupt someone because you know what they are going to say or because you want to guess - used especially when you are annoyed
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  25. spoken somebody tells me (that) used to say what someone has told you
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  26. spoken you're telling me used to emphasize that you already know and agree with something that someone has just said
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  27. spoken tell me about it used to say that you already know how bad something is, especially because you have experienced it yourself
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  28. spoken you never can tell/you can never tell used to say that you cannot be certain about what will happen in the future
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  29. spoken there's no telling what/how etc used to say that it is impossible to know what has happened or what will happen next
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  30. spoken that would be telling used to say that you cannot tell someone something because it is a secret
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  31. spoken tell somebody where to go/where to get off used to tell someone angrily that what they have said is insulting or unfair
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  32. spoken tell it like it is American English to say exactly what you think or what is true, without hiding anything that might upset or offend people
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  33. spoken I'm not telling (you) used to say that you refuse to tell someone something
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  34. spoken tell me another (one) used when you do not believe what someone has told you
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synonym
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Tell


Definition: Meaning of, Tell in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / tɛl /

  • noun
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Singular Plural
N/A N/A
  1. which he did successfully without mishap a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow
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Tell used in phrases

  • Tell, William
    1. a Swiss FOLK HERO of the 14th century, who opposed the Austrians who ruled Switzerland. According to a famous story, Tell was ordered by the Austrian GOVERNOR to use his CROSSBOW to shoot an apple placed on his own son's head. He succeeded in doing this because of his great skill, and later killed the GOVERNOR. This encouraged the Swiss people to fight and gain their independence. Tell's story is told in a well-known OPERA by ROSSINI .
  • William Tell (noun)
    1. which he did successfully without mishap a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow
  • kiss-and-tell (noun)
    1. a story, article, book etc in which someone tells the public the secret details of a romantic relationship that they had with a famous person
  • show and tell (noun)
    1. an activity for school children in which they bring an object to school and tell the other children about it
  • tell on (verb)
    1. give away information about somebody
    2. produce an effect or strain on somebody
  • time will tell
    1. something will be only be known or clarified in the future
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Tell used in phrasal verbs

  • tell against (phrasal verb)
    1. tell against someone if a quality or feature tells against someone, it makes them less likely to succeed in achieving something
  • tell apart (phrasal verb)
    1. tell someone/something apart to recognize the difference between two people or things that are very similar
  • tell of (phrasal verb)
    1. tell someone of something formal to inform someone about something
    2. tell of something mainly literary to mention or talk about something
  • tell off (phrasal verb)
    1. to criticize someone angrily for doing something wrong
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