Tell Meaning
Tell Definition & Usage
To give information or make something known.
Examples
- "She told me everything about her childhood."
- "Can you tell me how to get to the library?"
- "I’ll tell you a secret if you promise not to tell anyone."
- "He told the police what he had seen during the robbery."
- "I can’t tell if she’s joking or serious."
To command, direct, or order someone to do something.
Examples
- "My mother told me to clean my room."
- "The teacher told the students to read the next chapter."
- "She told him to be quiet during the meeting."
- "He was told to leave the premises immediately."
- "They told him not to come back until he had finished the task."
To reveal or expose information, especially a hidden or secret matter.
Examples
- "She told on him after he broke the vase."
- "If you tell on someone, you could get them in trouble."
- "He was told on by a colleague for not completing his work."
- "She told her friends about the surprise party."
- "I won’t tell on you, but you need to apologize."
To foresee or predict something in the future.
Examples
- "The weather forecast told of heavy rain for tomorrow."
- "She can tell when someone is lying."
- "The signs all tell me that it's going to be a good year."
- "He could tell that she was upset just by looking at her face."
- "Can you tell me if the train is running late?"
To distinguish or differentiate something from something else.
Examples
- "I can’t tell the difference between these two shirts."
- "Can you tell which one is the fake painting?"
- "It's hard to tell if she’s happy or just tired."
- "He told the twins apart by their shoes."
- "I can’t tell if this is a good idea or not."
Cultural Context
The word 'tell' has a long history in English, tracing back to Old English 'tellan', meaning to count, relate, or narrate. Over time, its usage expanded into various contexts including communication, instruction, and distinguishing between things.
The Story of the Secret
Story
The Story of the Secret
It was a quiet evening when Sarah sat down at the old oak table with her brother, Michael. She had a secret—something she had been holding onto for months. As the clock ticked, Sarah hesitated, unsure if she should tell him. 'I have something to tell you,' she finally said, looking at Michael with a mixture of fear and excitement. Michael leaned forward, his face a picture of curiosity. 'What is it?' he asked. Sarah took a deep breath. 'I’m moving to New York,' she blurted out. Michael blinked in surprise. 'Wait, what? When?' 'In two weeks. I was going to tell you earlier, but I didn’t know how.' She continued, 'I just needed to do it for myself.' Michael sat back, processing the news. 'I can't believe you're leaving,' he said, his voice a little strained. 'I thought we were going to finish the summer here, like always.' Sarah smiled softly. 'I know, but sometimes things change. It's not easy to tell someone something like that. But now you know.' Michael nodded, taking in the moment. 'Well, I guess I’m happy for you... I think.' They both laughed, the tension breaking. 'Don't tell anyone yet,' Sarah said, 'but when it's official, I’ll tell everyone.' Michael nodded again. 'I won’t tell. But you have to promise me we’ll stay in touch.' 'Of course,' Sarah promised, 'and next summer, I'll tell you all about it.' As they sat there, the silence between them felt comfortable, knowing that some secrets were meant to be told when the time was right.
Related Words
