Definition of “tell” - English Dictionary

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“tell” in English

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tellverb

uk ​ /tel/ us ​ /tel/ told, told

tell verb (SPEAK)

A1 [ T ] to say something to someone, often giving them information or instructions:

Tell me about your holiday then.
[ + two objects ] Can you tell me how to get to the library?
[ + obj + (that) ] Did you tell anyone (that) you were coming to see me?
[ + obj + speech ] "I'm leaving you," she told him.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] I told her to go home.
formal He told us of his extraordinary childhood.
I can't tell you how grateful I am for your help (= I am extremely grateful).
tell a lie/lies

› to say something/things that are not true:

She's always telling lies.
tell it like it is informal

› to tell the facts without hiding anything

tell tales disapproving

› If someone, usually a child, tells tales, they tell someone such as a teacher about something bad that someone else has done:

Your classmates won't trust you if you're always telling tales, Alvin.
See also
telltale
tell the truth

› to speak honestly:

How do you know she's telling the truth?
to tell (you) the truth

› to be honest:

To tell (you) the truth, I didn't understand a word of what he was saying.

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

tell verb (KNOW)

B2 [ I or T ] to know, recognize, or be certain:

"He's Dutch." "How can you tell?"
[ + (that) ] I could tell (that) you were unhappy.

B2 [ T ] If something tells you something, it gives you information:

What does the survey tell us about the lives of teenagers?
tell the difference

C1 to notice a difference in quality between two things:

This coffee is about half the price of that one and yet you really can't tell the difference.
tell sb's fortune also tell fortunes

› to say what will happen in someone's future:

At the fair, there was a lady who told your fortune.
tell the time UK US tell time

› to be able to understand a clock:

My daughter has just learned to tell the time.
there is no telling

› there is no way of knowing:

There is no telling what the future will hold for them.
you never can tell B2 also you can never tell

› said to mean that you can never know or be certain:

Who knows what will happen to Peter and me in the future - you can never tell.

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tell verb (HAVE AN EFFECT)

› [ I ] to have an effect:

She's been under a lot of stress recently and it's starting to tell.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

Say or tell?Say and tell are irregular verbs. The past simple of say is said, the past simple of tell is told: …
Say and tell with objectsBoth say and tell take a direct object. The object is most commonly the reported clause (the report of what someone said). …
Tell + indirect object + to-infinitiveWe use tell with an indirect object and a to-infinitive to report a command or an instruction. We don’t normally use say in this way: …

Idiom(s)

I'm telling you
(I) told you (so)!
(I'll) tell you what
tell me about it!
tell me another one!
you're telling me!

Phrasal verb(s)

tell against sb/sth
tell sth/sb apart
tell sb off
tell on sb

(Definition of “tell” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“tell” in American English

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tellverb

us ​ /tel/ past tense and past participle told /toʊld/

tell verb (SAY)

› [ I/T ] to say something to someone, esp. to give instructions or information; report:

[ T ] Can you tell me how to get to the bus station?
[ I ] She told about her travels overseas.

tell verb (SHOW)

› [ T ] to show or give information in ways other than talking:

This light tells you when the battery is low.

tell verb (ORDER)

› [ T ] to order someone to do something:

I told you to be home by eleven.

tell verb (KNOW)

› [ I/T ] to know or recognize:

[ I ] It’s hard to tell which is better.
[ T ] It’s easy to tell a robin by its red breast.
[ + (that) clause ] I could tell that you were unhappy.
[ T ] This one is supposed to be better, but how can you tell the difference?

Idiom(s)

I’m telling you
tell it like it is
tell me about it
tell (someone) the truth
(I) tell you what
tell time
to tell (you) the truth

Phrasal verb(s)

tell someone/something apart
tell off someone
tell on someone

(Definition of “tell” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Blogs about "tell"

He doesn't pull any punches. (The language of telling the truth)

by Kate Woodford,

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