Synonyms of tells

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

• describes
• recounts
• narrates
• relates
• chronicles
• reports
• recites
• details
• depicts
• charts
• sets forth
• reveals
• states
• voices
• rehearses
• discloses
• expresses
• gives
• utters
• enumerates
• exposes
• delivers
• divulges
• itemizes
• renders
• delineates
• reels off
• particularizes
• bares
• sketches
• lets on (about)

2

as in says

to express (a thought or emotion) in words

just tell us what is in your heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

• says
• speaks
• utters
• talks
• discusses
• shares
• articulates
• announces
• states
• gives
• verbalizes
• puts
• publishes
• shouts
• enunciates
• brings out
• vocalizes
• passes
• proclaims
• affirms
• declares
• looks
• whispers
• asserts
• puts into words
• posts
• voices
• advertises
• blurts
• sounds
• alleges
• publicizes
• ventilates
• promulgates
• airs
• formulates
• avers
• breathes
• avows
• words
• gets off
• broadcasts
• chirps
• murmurs
• blabbers
• mouths
• gasps
• drawls
• remarks
• comments
• shoots
• blazes
• vents
• lips
• spouts
• purrs
• clothes
• snarls
• phrases
• bolts
• rips (out)
• pipes up (with)
• formulizes
• splutters
• avouches
• couches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppresses
• stifles

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• counts
• computes
• calculates
• enumerates
• numbers
• checks
• recounts
• adds (up)
• tables
• tabulates
• tallies
• marks
• reckons
• totals
• ticks (off)

4

as in informs

to give information to

tell me, when did you begin playing the violin?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• informs
• advises
• instructs
• teaches
• briefs
• educates
• notifies
• apprises
• enlightens
• familiarizes
• acquaints
• clues (in)
• clears
• alerts
• fills in
• verses
• convinces
• catches up
• hips
• reassures
• assures
• advertises
• lets someone know
• wises (up)
• keeps (someone) posted
• discloses (to)
• announces (to)
• lectures
• certifies
• schools
• warrants
• tutors
• disabuses
• disillusions
• disenchants
• undeceives

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misleads
• misinforms

5

as in instructs

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority

told us to sit still and wait

Synonyms & Similar Words

• instructs
• asks
• orders
• commands
• directs
• begs
• advises
• warns
• enjoins
• bosses (around)
• bids
• requires
• appoints
• adjures
• requests
• charges
• compels
• authorizes
• beseeches
• entreats
• assigns
• petitions
• obliges
• supervises
• forces
• leads
• manages
• counsels
• oversees
• controls
• constrains
• conducts
• coerces
• superintends
• commissions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follows
• minds
• obeys
• observes
• keeps
• complies (with)

6

as in reveals

to make known (as information previously kept secret)

I won't tell your secret to anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reveals
• discloses
• discovers
• uncovers
• announces
• exposes
• divulges
• shares
• unveils
• unmasks
• spills
• bares
• brings to light
• confides
• lets on (about)
• proclaims
• publishes
• leaks
• goes public (with)
• informs
• declares
• acknowledges
• confesses
• advertises
• spills the beans (about)
• unbosoms
• uncloaks
• lets the cat out of the bag (about)
• relates
• betrays
• debunks
• admits
• owns
• promulgates
• imparts
• publicizes
• unearths
• communicates
• posts
• concedes
• brings out
• shows up
• talks
• blabs
• sounds
• broadcasts
• gives away
• avows
• unclothes
• blazes
• undrapes
• squeals
• rakes up
• smokes out
• disinters
• placards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• covers (up)
• conceals
• hides
• masks
• enshrouds
• cloaks
• camouflages
• disguises
• shrouds
• veils
• obscures
• glosses (over)
• gilds
• overshadows
• darkens
• varnishes
• eclipses
• whitewashes
• shades
• beclouds
• clouds
• overcasts
• bedims
• befogs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tells

The film, billed as a biographical dramedy, tells the story of a chaotic boardroom crisis at OpenAI in November 2023, when co-founder Altman was fired and then re-hired at the AI giant. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Ilya is looking for work as an assistant, and the professor, with his dandyish nerd arrogance, tells him to look at a paper he’s written and come back in a few days. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

When our skin senses heat, those signals travel to a primitive part of the brain that tells our body to cool down. — Will Stone, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026

Nobody tells you that a model described your firm as a generalist, listed three competitors and left you out, or returned a description so flat the prospect had no reason to choose you over the vendor already in front of her. — Kathleen Lucente, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Perry’s novel, shortlisted for the Booker Prize (and the only debut on the list), tells the story of a young-ish curator who is trying to understand the world of a medieval monarch who had been reluctant to take the throne. — Kate McKenna, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Also be especially cautious if a webpage tells you to open Windows Run, PowerShell or Command Prompt and paste something into it. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

The film tells the story through the perspective of the family who lived it. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Speaking vulnerably, Sandy tells us about her journey, and she is moved when Aesha gives her a necklace with a pendant engraved with the number 36 and an anchor. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026