Tell Definition
tell
noun
- 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 (which he did successfully without mishap)
verb
- express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name"
- let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late"
- narrate or give a detailed account of; "Tell what happened"; "The father told a story to his child"
- give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed"
- discern or comprehend; "He could tell that she was unhappy"
- inform positively and with certainty and confidence; "I tell you that man is a crook!"
- give evidence; "he was telling on all his former colleague"
- mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
"Tell" in song lyrics
See how tell is used in real songs:
-
"Okay why? Please do tell"
2 Hungry Bros. present 8thW1 — Talkin -
"Cause the Brother Marquis has a story to tell"
2 Live Crew — Check it Out Y'all -
"But in 9-4, it's show and tell"
The New 2 Live Crew — You Go Girl
Words that rhyme with tell
Usage tips for "tell"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "tell" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for tell to find words that pair well.