spelling out

verb

present participle of spell out
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 spelling out Users were likely restricted from properly spelling out such words because, by design, the platform prevents emoji from being used more than once in reaction to a post. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The doors finally open Store Manager Patrick McGuinness welcomed customers pushing their shopping carts into the store while leading loud chants, such as spelling out Wegmans letter by letter. — Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026 As red smoke billowed above them, the students stood in front of large gray letters spelling out the school's name, holding a Palestinian flag. — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The 90-second video, uploaded to Instagram by content creator Ed Choi, was shot Sunday at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, where Raman held a rally spelling out her plan for her first 100 days as mayor. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 But the doc often relies on how well known these stories are to get out of JAŸ spelling out their grim particulars. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 The Secretary of State's office also released a contingency plan spelling out exactly how a statewide hand recount would be run if Lindell posts the bond by Monday's deadline. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Existing plans must also mail every enrollee an Annual Notice of Change around the same time, spelling out exactly what that person’s premium, deductible and covered drugs will look like in January. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 After a court filing spelling out the agreement came during the last hour of trading on Wall Street, shares in Paramount added to what was already a lackluster day. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spelling out
  1. explaining
  2. illustrating
  3. clarifying
  4. demonstrating
  5. getting across
Verb
  • The old boy was perfectly reasonable, explaining the difference between federal reimbursement and state reimbursement, and the speed that agencies move on the different levels.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As this is a Lynch film, explaining the rest of the plot would be a pointless exercise, but expect plentiful violence, stylish surrealism, and a road movie that’ll shock and delight in equal measure.
    — Daisy Jones, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of explaining
Verb
  • Over time, the company has aggregated a combination of destinations, tournaments, leagues and camps, illustrating how physical facilities can anchor a broader participation business rather than function simply as real-estate assets.
    — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Its report points to independent software maintenance as a way for IT leaders to regain control over software budgets, illustrating its potential bias.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of illustrating
Verb
  • OpenAI’s approach to two of the three results also directly violates a clarifying statement AGMAI issued just a day before they were released by designating specific experts to shepherd the results into the public sphere.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Meaning the burn of this loss, the clarifying reality check and the imperative to improve.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of clarifying
Verb
  • In May 2024, The War Zone examined Chinese state television video showing soldiers taking cover from first-person-view (FPV) drones, using a net-catching projectile, and demonstrating a handheld jammer.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The rise of self-harm influencers—people for whom demonstrating their distress online has become a source of income and validation—is a terrifying new development.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of demonstrating
Verb
  • Few people know what is really going on in Tehran or how bad things are getting across the country.
    — David Faris, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
  • For getting up the hill and getting across the flatter sections.
    — Outside Online, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
Definition of getting across

Browse Nearby Words

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spelling out
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Cite this Entry

“Spelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spelling%20out. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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