tell
tehl
Tell (verb) means to give someone information by speaking or writing; to say something to someone. Example: “She told him the good news as soon as he walked in.”
verb
1
To give someone information by speaking or writing; to say something to someone.
"She told him the good news as soon as he walked in."
"Can you tell me how to get to the station?"
"Please tell your parents that the trip has been moved to Friday."
2
To narrate or recount, as in telling a story.
"The librarian will tell a story to the children every Friday afternoon."
"Grandpa loved to tell stories about his time at sea."
"She likes to tell jokes at dinner to make everyone laugh."
3
To order or instruct someone to do something.
"The teacher told the class to sit down."
"Don't tell me what to do in my own kitchen!"
4
To know or work out something, often by noticing small clues.
"I could tell she was upset just by her tone of voice."
"It's hard to tell whether he's joking or serious."
"You can tell it's going to rain when the sky turns that shade of grey."
5
To inform an authority figure about someone's wrongdoing.
"Nobody wanted to tell the head of year that Sam had skipped the lesson."
"The younger kid threatened to tell the teacher if they didn't stop."
"If he keeps copying my answers, I'll tell the headteacher about it."
How to use tell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pass on information by speaking, to order someone, or to work something out from clues — one of the most basic everyday verbs in English.
Common mistake
"Tell" takes a person as its object ("tell me"), while "say" does not ("say to me," not "say me"). Don't say "tell to me."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tell the truth
tell a story
tell someone off
can't tell
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Word forms
- Plural
- tells
- Third person singular
- tells
- Past tense
- told, telled
- Archaic forms
- tellest, toldest, telleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you _____ me how to get to the station?
Etymology
From Old English tellan, "to count, tell," from a Germanic root meaning "to count, enumerate" — the same root that gives us "tale" and "talk."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for tell
See all rhymes for tell →Frequently asked questions
What does “tell” mean?
The word “tell” means to give someone information by speaking or writing; to say something to someone. In plain terms, to pass on information by speaking, to order someone, or to work something out from clues — one of the most basic everyday verbs in English.
How do you pronounce “tell”?
“Tell” is pronounced tehl (/tɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tell” in a sentence?
Here is “tell” used in a sentence: “Can you tell me how to get to the station?”
What is another word for “tell”?
Words with a similar meaning to “tell” include number, apprise, make known, tattle and snitch.
What is the opposite of “tell”?
The opposite of “tell” — its antonyms — is ask.
What part of speech is “tell”?
“Tell” is a verb.
Where does the word “tell” come from?
The word “tell” comes from Old English. From Old English tellan, "to count, tell," from a Germanic root meaning "to count, enumerate" — the same root that gives us "tale" and "talk.".
Is “tell” a common word?
“Tell” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between 'tell' and 'say'?
'Tell' needs a listener as its object, so you tell someone something: 'She told me the news.' 'Say' focuses on the words and does not need a named listener: 'She said the news,' or 'said to me.' A useful rule is to tell a person, but say a thing.
Can you say 'tell to someone'?
No. 'Tell' takes the person directly, with no 'to', so say 'tell me,' not 'tell to me.' The preposition 'to' belongs with 'say': 'she said it to me.' Mixing them up is one of the most common errors for English learners.
What is the past tense of 'tell'?
The past tense and past participle are both 'told': 'he told us yesterday,' 'I have told you before.' It is an irregular verb, so there is no 'telled.' The spelling shifts from 'tell' to 'told,' changing the vowel sound as well.
What is the difference between 'tell' and 'speak' or 'talk'?
'Tell' conveys specific information to a listener, such as a fact, story, or instruction. 'Speak' and 'talk' describe the act of using the voice or having a conversation, without pinning down the content. You tell someone the time, but you talk with them about the weather.
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