told
ˈtōld 
; telling
; telling
1
2
3
a
: to give information to : inform
tell us about your job
b
: to assure emphatically
they did not do it, I tell you
5
: to find out by observing : recognize
you can tell it's a masterpiece
1
: to give an account
an article telling of her experience
2
: to tell someone (such as a parent or other person of authority) about what someone else has done
—often used with on
I'll get even with you if you ever tell on me—
Inside Detective
Inside Detective3
: to serve as evidence or indication
4
: to have a marked effect
the pressure was beginning to tell on him
plural tells
1
: an inadvertent behavior or mannerism that betrays a poker player's true thoughts, intentions, or emotions
The World Series of Poker: earth's greatest liars gathered together with millions of dollars on the line … . It's a blur of action, but the educated spectator ignores these distractions and focuses on the players' mannerisms—it's all part of the science of tells, reflexes a player can't control that, read right, give away his thoughts.—Seth Stevenson
Seth Stevenson2
: a revealing gesture, expression, etc., that is likened to a poker player's tell
But his eyes darted fractionally to one side as he said it …; the classic liar's tell.—Stephen King
Stephen King
broadly
: sign, indication
I talked to staffers who said that their bosses had two or three flights booked getting out of town, a big tell that there was not going to be a deal. —Kelly O'Donnell
Kelly O'Donnell Examples of tell in a Sentence
Verb
He told us the story.
Has she told you the good news, yet?
Please tell us your name and occupation.
She looked at the palm of my hand and told me my fortune.
If you see her, tell her hello for me.
“I feel sick,” he told his mom.
“What is his name?” “I don't know. He didn't tell me.”
“Who is the letter from?” “I'm not telling.”
I promise not to tell anyone.
I can't tell you because it's a secret.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Her history underscores the need for state law and how the criminal justice system interacts with those mentally ill to be reviewed, advocates told the Journal Sentinel.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Folklorist Thomas Keightley tells the tale of a kobold named Hödeken who was insulted by a kitchen boy who kept spraying water at him.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Alumni want more transparency Alums told IndyStar that transparency is the way to rebuild their trust.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
At the other end of the spectrum, Macquarie’s chief economist, David Doyle, tells Fortune that while Washington isn’t necessarily shaping its policy because of imminent recessionary fears, policymakers will be keen to maintain growth.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Her history underscores the need for state law and how the criminal justice system interacts with those mentally ill to be reviewed, advocates told the Journal Sentinel.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Folklorist Thomas Keightley tells the tale of a kobold named Hödeken who was insulted by a kitchen boy who kept spraying water at him.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Alumni want more transparency Alums told IndyStar that transparency is the way to rebuild their trust.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell
Cite this Entry
“Tell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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