noun
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telltale
TEHL-tayl
Telltale (noun) means something that gives away or reveals a fact, often one meant to stay hidden. Example: “The telltale smell of smoke gave away where he'd been hiding.”
noun
1
Something that gives away or reveals a fact, often one meant to stay hidden.
"The telltale smell of smoke gave away where he'd been hiding."
2
A warning light or indicator that signals a problem.
"The dashboard telltale lit up as soon as the oil ran low."
adj
1
Revealing something that was meant to be concealed.
"She noticed the telltale crumbs on his shirt."
How to use telltale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (a sign, mark, or light) that gives away a secret or warns of a problem.
Common pairings
telltale sign
telltale light
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Word forms
- Plural
- telltales
- Comparative
- more telltale
- Superlative
- most telltale
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ smell of smoke gave away where he'd been hiding.
Etymology
From tell plus tale, likely reshaped from an earlier form of "tale-teller."
Related words
Rhymes for telltale
See all rhymes for telltale →Frequently asked questions
What does “telltale” mean?
The word “telltale” means something that gives away or reveals a fact, often one meant to stay hidden. In plain terms, something (a sign, mark, or light) that gives away a secret or warns of a problem.
How do you pronounce “telltale”?
“Telltale” is pronounced TEHL-tayl (/ˈtɛlteɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “telltale” in a sentence?
Here is “telltale” used in a sentence: “The telltale smell of smoke gave away where he'd been hiding.”
What part of speech is “telltale”?
Depending on how it is used, “telltale” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “telltale” have?
“Telltale” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that gives away or reveals a fact, often one meant to stay hidden.
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