tells

Verb

tell (third-person singular simple present tells, present participle telling, simple past and past participle told or (dialectal or nonstandard) telled or tolled)

1. (transitive, archaic outside of idioms) To determine the number, amount, or value of [something].
   • All told, there were over a dozen. Can you tell time on a clock? He had untold wealth.

   Synonyms:

   count, reckon, enumerate

2. (intransitive, transitive) To notice, discern. (Roughly, "can tell" means "know" but with a sense of direct perception.)
   • I can tell that you're thrilled.
3. (intransitive, transitive) To pick up on a difference. (See tell apart for more.)
   • An expert can tell an original from a forgery.
4. (ditransitive, transitive) To narrate, to recount.
   • I want to tell a story; I want to tell you a story.

   Synonyms:

   narrate, recount, relate

5. (ditransitive, transitive) To convey by speech; to say.
   • Finally, someone told him the truth. He seems to like to tell lies.
6. (transitive) To instruct or inform.
   • Please tell me how to do it.

   Synonyms:

   advise

See all 20 meanings of tell