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
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
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
Promised Lands hardly tells all the truths there are about the conflicts in the Middle East, about the October War, about the mood of Israel right now, about war and logs and memory and survival.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
Data from SkillCorner tells us that only one La Liga player — Barcelona’s Ferran Torres — has made more runs in-behind the defensive line at high speed, with 13 of those off-ball movements leading to a shot for his team within 10 seconds.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The rubble tells one story; the people who created it tell another.
—Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
The picture book is both written and illustrated by Knightley, 40, who tells a whimsical story about a young girl that wishes her new baby sister would be carried away by birds.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Deliver Me from Nowhere, which is now in theaters, tells the story of Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) recording and releasing his 1982 album, Nebraska.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Just like 2024, the top three airports remain the same, which isn’t surprising, Taylor tells CNBC Make It.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 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
Promised Lands hardly tells all the truths there are about the conflicts in the Middle East, about the October War, about the mood of Israel right now, about war and logs and memory and survival.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
Data from SkillCorner tells us that only one La Liga player — Barcelona’s Ferran Torres — has made more runs in-behind the defensive line at high speed, with 13 of those off-ball movements leading to a shot for his team within 10 seconds.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The rubble tells one story; the people who created it tell another.
—Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
The picture book is both written and illustrated by Knightley, 40, who tells a whimsical story about a young girl that wishes her new baby sister would be carried away by birds.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Deliver Me from Nowhere, which is now in theaters, tells the story of Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) recording and releasing his 1982 album, Nebraska.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
Just like 2024, the top three airports remain the same, which isn’t surprising, Taylor tells CNBC Make It.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells
Verb
-
In the book, Birger describes the house’s history as guiding its future.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Intensity, on the other hand, describes the level of ground shaking at various locations and can vary depending on distance from the epicenter and local geological conditions.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Ram's driver, Kolton Blees, 30, of Pearcy was injured, the report says.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Compact Umbrella London is no stranger to rainy days, and as many cities gear up for less predictable weather this fall and winter, Ali says an umbrella is a must-have item for any trip.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
My suite — a tidy 118 square feet — manages a double bed, sofa, table and two armchairs and the kind of bathroom where a Dyson hairdryer counts as standard issue.—
Antonia Mortensen,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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Its leading position is also given by its widespread presence, as the company counts more than 300 employees across 18 territories and plans to grow to 500 employees in the coming years through its strategy of sustained yet selective expansion via partnerships with local players.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Wells Notice, which serves as the civil equivalent of a criminal grand jury target letter, informs the recipients that the Division is prepared to recommend to the Commissioners that they be sued.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Once passengers buy tickets, the attendant directs them to a waiting Tesla, informs the driver of the destination and sends them on their way.—
Hadley Hitson,
Nashville Tennessean,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
He is whisked away from a charity basketball event to his Air Force One, where Lieutenant Commander Robert Reeves (Jonah Hauer-King) hands him the Black Bag and instructs him to choose which retaliatory strike option to approve.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Cameron and Sullivan find Jones, and Sullivan instructs Cameron to bring him back to the medic truck.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Moore’s journey reveals how Black Nationalism emerged not simply as a rejection of American ideals, but as a demand for their true fulfillment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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The shuffle in leadership also reveals internal disagreements within the administration about enforcement strategy.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bransten recounts meeting with David and Ralph Lauren at the time, prepared with slides.—
Tharin Pillay,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Set in 1971, The Post recounts the decision by The Washington Post to publish the top-secret Pentagon Papers and the newspaper’s ensuing legal victory over the Nixon administration.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Diane Brady is an award-winning business journalist and author who has interviewed newsmakers worldwide and often speaks about the global business landscape.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
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If none of those speaks to you, the Victorian era has some fantastic mysteries and ghost stories to get lost in.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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