1
as in to describe
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 to say
to express (a thought or emotion) in words
just tell us what is in your heart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in to inform
to give information to
tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to instruct
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 to reveal
to make known (as information previously kept secret)
I won't tell your secret to anyone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tell
There’s scepticism around how effective supplements and vitamins like magnesium and collagen actually are, experts and nutritionists previously told CNBC.
—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
28 June 2026
The summer before had been so dry that the Guadalupe briefly stopped flowing, and David had to tell his guests not to splash around in the stagnant river.
—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
Yves Sguy, an official of the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, told reporters that the crash occurred soon after the plane took off from the Nancy-Essey Airport on the outskirts of the city of Nancy, according to the Associated Press.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 June 2026
Fro-yo heads will tell you, conspiratorially, that Butterfield Market is rumored to have the same supplier as Forty Carrots, the café tucked away on the seventh floor of Bloomingdale’s which claims to have introduced frozen yogurt to New York City some fifty years ago.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tell
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
28 June 2026
The summer before had been so dry that the Guadalupe briefly stopped flowing, and David had to tell his guests not to splash around in the stagnant river.
—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
Yves Sguy, an official of the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, told reporters that the crash occurred soon after the plane took off from the Nancy-Essey Airport on the outskirts of the city of Nancy, according to the Associated Press.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
28 June 2026
Fro-yo heads will tell you, conspiratorially, that Butterfield Market is rumored to have the same supplier as Forty Carrots, the café tucked away on the seventh floor of Bloomingdale’s which claims to have introduced frozen yogurt to New York City some fifty years ago.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tell
Verb
-
Kainerugaba’s associates describe him as a dedicated military officer who often eschews ostentatious displays of wealth.
-
Others described people dancing and eating in that part of the park before the crash happened.
Verb
-
DeKalb County's housing chief, Alan Ferguson, said this is an example of an affordable senior apartment project.
-
The point of the Top 10 lists, Chandrasekaran said, is to steer young adults to employers that are actively hiring recent graduates into jobs that can seed meaningful careers.
Verb
-
The department’s definition laid out several criteria used to weigh if degrees count as professional programs.
-
States can still count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a blow to Republicans who had pushed for stricter regulations.
Verb
-
There appears to be no clear association between these two lists, although the contaminant list is supposed to inform the monitoring list.
-
Marcia Kimpton's hotel tips Kimpton’s upbringing informed her approach to selecting hotels.
Verb
-
Ninety minutes later, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez retweeted the message from the Central American leader – a man whom the regime’s Chavista movement has long regarded as a political nemesis – instructing Venezuela’s foreign ministry to coordinate the support.
-
That includes not even telling guests the full information about the wedding, with people invited reportedly instructed to arrive in New York, without being given details about when and where the wedding will be.
Verb
-
Studies reveal a growing 'proximity bias,' where in-office employees are more likely to receive promotions and recognition, with career prospects for remote workers declining.
-
The alleged rape was reported by The Athletic in May, though the identity of the player was not revealed at the time.
Verb
-
Ariana Madix serves as host while Iain Stirling narrates.
-
The Toy Story star will return to narrate the second season, which will premiere in 2028.
Verb
-
Robert, talk me through the thinking behind this framing.
-
Seconds later, Hines-Allen decided she was done talking and shoved Bonner.
Cite this Entry
“Tell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tell. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
