tell

tellverb

To tell someone something is to give them information, a story, or an order in words; tell is also used for knowing something from signs.

1. give informationgive information to someone by speaking or writing

   transitive [T] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object + that-clause [V + obj + that] verb + object + wh-clause [V + obj + wh] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Did you tell Kim about the party? V + obj + prep + obj
   • She told me that the store was closed. V + obj + that
   • Tell me what you want for dinner. V + obj + wh
   • He told us the good news as soon as he arrived. V + obj + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun tell the truth, tell a lie, tell a secret, tell the news, tell someone your name

   phrase tell someone about something, to tell you the truth, let me tell you, I can tell you, don't tell anyone

   Synonyms inform (inform is formal)

   Compare say (say goes with the words, not the person: say it to me; the note at say compares say, tell, speak, and talk); explain

   1. agive someone a story, a joke, or an account of something

      transitive [T] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

      • Grandpa loves telling stories about his childhood. V + obj
      • Tell us a joke, Sam! V + obj + obj
      • She told me the whole story of her trip. V + obj + obj

      Collocations

      verb + noun tell a story, tell a joke, tell someone's fortune

   For translators (sense 1)

   Grammar trap The person is the first object: tell me the answer, tell her that, tell him to go. Say is used when the words come first, and then the person takes to. In a reported question after tell, keep statement word order: tell me where it is.

2. orderorder someone to do something, or say strongly that they should do it

   transitive [T] verb + object + to-infinitive [V + obj + to-inf] verb + object + wh-clause [V + obj + wh] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The doctor told her to rest for a week. V + obj + to-inf
   • I told you not to touch that! V + obj + to-inf (not comes before to)
   • Do what you're told. (passive)
   • Nobody tells me what to do. V + obj + wh

   Collocations

   phrase do as you are told, tell someone what to do, tell someone not to do something, I told you to

   Synonyms order (order is stronger); instruct (instruct is formal)

   Compare ask (ask someone to do something is a request, not an order)

3. know from signsknow or judge something from what you see, hear, or feel

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + that-clause [V + that] verb + wh-clause [V + wh] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj] not used in the passive [no passive]

   • I could tell that Ana was tired. V + that (usually with can or could)
   • Can you tell which one is real? V + wh
   • Can Yuki tell the time yet? V + obj (tell the time: read a clock)
   • I can never tell Kim's handwriting from Lee's. V + obj + prep + obj (tell one thing from another)

   Collocations

   phrase can tell, can't tell, tell the difference, tell one thing from another, you can tell, there's no telling

   Synonyms distinguish (distinguish is formal, for telling one thing from another)

   Compare know; tell apart

   For translators (sense 3)

   Meaning across languages The knowing use (I can tell you're tired, I can't tell them apart) is not the speech verb in most languages; it is closer to see, notice, or recognize. It is nearly always used with can or could.

4. of a sign or resultshow something or make it known

   transitive [T] verb + object + that-clause [V + obj + that] verb + object + wh-clause [V + obj + wh] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Her smile told me she had good news. V + obj + that (the subject is a thing)
   • The map tells you where the exits are. V + obj + wh
   • These numbers tell a different story. V + obj

   Collocations

   phrase tell a different story, tell its own story, tell you a lot about, tell you something

   Synonyms show

5. have an effecthave an effect that can be seen or felt, especially after a time

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • The long hours were beginning to tell on her health. V + prep + obj
   • In a long race, small differences in training start to tell.

   Collocations

   phrase begin to tell, start to tell, tell on someone

   Compare tell on (tell on someone also means report something bad that they did)