The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - tell° v.

1) relate, narrate, recount, recite: Tell me a story. 2) Sometimes, tell of. say, mention, hint at, refer to, touch on, utter, state, declare, proclaim, announce, publish, broadcast, communicate, make known, report, impart, indicate, release, break, let (something) be known, advertise, trumpet, herald, bring to light, disclose, divulge, intimate, leak, admit, betray, acknowledge, confess, disbosom oneself, get (something) off (one's) chest, unburden or disburden (oneself) , blab, tattle, Colloq talk, let the cat out of the bag, spill the beans, let out, let slip, blow the whistle on, give away the (whole) show, US pull the plug on, Slang squeal, squeak, rat, peach, US spill (one's) guts: She told of her fears. He refuses to tell where the money is hidden. She talked a lot but told very little. 3) apprise, advise, inform, let (someone) know, notify, acquaint (someone) with (something) : He has told me everything. Tell them that I shall be late. He told them nothing of his illness. 4) recount, describe, delineate, outline, portray, depict, express, put, word, explain: I am not sure how to tell you this. 5) order, command, require, demand (that) , charge, direct, dictate (that) , instruct, bid: Tell them I want no visitors today. She told him to go. 6) carry weight, be influential, be effective, have (an) effect: What we accomplished here today is bound to tell in our favour. 7) determine, say, confirm, aver, assert, asseverate, swear, take an oath, be sure or certain or positive, know (for sure or for certain) : It just shows you never can tell. 8) ascertain, determine, perceive, understand, make out, discern, identify, recognize, distinguish, discriminate, differentiate: I cannot tell if that is George or not. I can't tell George from John in this photograph. 9) predict, prophesy, forecast, foretell, foresee, forecast, determine, ascertain, know: Who can tell what tomorrow will bring? 10 tell off. scold, reprimand, berate, chide, castigate, censure, take to task, rebuke, lecture, reproach, reprove, Colloq give (someone) a tongue-lashing, rake or haul (someone) over the coals, give (someone) a piece of (one's) mind, tick off, Slang tear a strip off, US chew out: He was told off for being late for dinner again. 1) 1 tell on. tattle on, blab about, Brit grass on: Charlotte never forgave Tim for telling on her to Aunt Jane.