tells

verb

present tense third-person singular of tell
1
as in describes
to give an oral or written account of in some detail they told the story of how they had met

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in says
to express (a thought or emotion) in words just tell us what is in your heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in counts
to find the sum of (a collection of things) by noting each one as it is being added who can tell the number of grains of sand in the world?

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4
as in informs
to give information to tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in instructs
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 reveals
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 tells The fugitive tells his underwater buddies what the humans have been doing to their kind. — Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026 An organization chart tells you where authority is supposed to sit. — Kelvin Cheema, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Sterling then stands Koya up and tells her to climb into the back seat of his patrol car. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026 When outcomes are uncertain, anxiety wakes up, and a voice in your head tells you to avoid taking risks. — Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026 Beirut City Pop, the latest compilation by archival label Habibi Funk, tells the story of the artists who dared to imagine a life beyond war. — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026 As Attias tells the story, the hotel was close to opening in 2008 when that year’s financial crisis hit. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Such is life under late-stage capitalism, Handler tells us, rather bleakly. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 The space also tells the story behind Loro Piana’s precious fibers and fabrics including vicuña, cashmere and baby cashmere, The Gift of Kings, cotton and linen. — David Moin, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tells
  1. describes
  2. says
  3. counts
  4. informs
  5. instructs
  6. reveals
  7. recounts
  8. speaks
Verb
  • The company describes its structure as an inverted pyramid, with store workers at the top.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Meta describes this option as permanently deleting chat history, stored files and active tasks.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of describes
Verb
  • That the first foreign policy message after the victory went to Moscow, and through a Russian state outlet, says a good deal about where the new government’s instincts lie.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Because food can be scarce there and people fear theft, individuals will store rice in their dirt-floor homes, Wagner says, allowing close contact with the rats that infest the island.
    — Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of says
Verb
  • As someone who works in a creative field, Pam counts several artists and designers as dear friends.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Given how much of the experience of a foldable is reliant on the cover screen, that counts for a lot.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of counts
Verb
  • Parks and Recreation Director Carl Williams noted that observing the physical impact of the king tides firsthand informs smarter municipal design.
    — Joan Murray, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The statement doesn’t amount to an endorsement, a spokesperson for Caruso said, but instead simply informs people for whom Caruso planned to vote.
    — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of informs
Verb
  • The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday morning, after Tinkler Mendez instructs them on the law.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Its facilitator handbook encourages children to share their pronouns and instructs adults to use gender-neutral language.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of instructs
Verb
  • There’s one detail that, looking back on it today, reveals a lot about the future queen of pop.
    — Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • An exclusive excerpt from Jonathan Van Meter’s ‘Citizen Kim’ reveals how a French Impressionist masterpiece ended up on her bathroom wall.
    — Jonathan Van Meter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of reveals
Verb
  • Sliding behind the wheel of a side-by-side utility vehicle, Shoffner takes off across the property and recounts her life story that led her away from the farm, into nonprofit work and back home when her dad got sick.
    — Stephen Fowler, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Another document recounts an unusual sighting in Saudi Arabia in 1957.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of recounts
Verb
  • No Israeli political leader, even in the opposition, speaks anymore about ending Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
    — Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Gow and Banbury are now pals, and Wishart speaks to them frequently, with the pair appearing on Q&A panels around the country to support the movie.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of speaks

Browse Nearby Words

tell (on)
tells
tells (of)
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Cite this Entry

“Tells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tells. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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