tell
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- pronunciation:
- tel
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Note, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
tells, telling, told |
| definition 1: |
to give information to (someone).
She told me about her problems at work.He told me that she was sick.- synonyms:
- inform
- similar words:
- advise
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| definition 2: |
to express in spoken or written words.
His mother always tells a story to him before he goes to sleep.She told a lie.- similar words:
- communicate, express, report, speak, write
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| definition 3: |
to command.
Please tell the children to be quiet.- synonyms:
- demand, order
- similar words:
- charge, require
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| definition 4: |
to recognize.
He can't tell the difference between my twin brother and me.Can you tell if this meat is still fresh?- synonyms:
- distinguish
- similar words:
- discriminate, know
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| related words: |
ask, contact, demonstrate, fill in, order, say, state |
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tell or say?
Say is used to report the words that someone spoke.
Tell is used to report an act of communication between people. The emphasis with
say is on words. The emphasis with
tell is on both the person who receives a message and the message itself.
Compare:
- She said that she was sick
- She told me that she was sick.