tell
express in words
How often you will meet it
Rank 142 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 170,286 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.081% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
verb
- express in words also: state, say He said that he wanted to marry hertell me what is bothering you
- let something be known Tell them that you will be late
- narrate or give a detailed account of also: narrate, recount, recite Tell what happenedThe father told a story to his child
- give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority also: order, enjoin, say I said to him to go homeShe ordered him to do the shopping
- discern or comprehend He could tell that she was unhappy
- inform positively and with certainty and confidence also: assure I tell you that man is a crook!
tell in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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When I like people immensely, I never tell their names to any one.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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I wanted to tell you of my contentment, but being slow of speech I--couldn't.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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Whether this implied that he had been disappointed in his wife, nobody could tell.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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Maiden, I fain would stop thee in thy flight-- Can'st tell where we could lodge this winter night?
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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Thar don't seem to be much the feller didn't tell Jason an' nothin' that Jason don't seem to remember.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1