tell
Communicate through words
Tell is less frequent than say, the most important reporting verb in English.
Tell is also distinct from say in being nearly always transitive for meanings related to speech.
The object of tell is most frequently a person, but the object can also be a noun or noun phrase that describes speech: Tell me a little about yourself. He told a long story about missing a train.
Tell can also mean to give information, or make something known: You didn’t tell her the combination, did you?
Formally communicate information
- updateNew version or information
- briefShort in duration
- appriseTo notify formally
- alertWarning or watchfulness
announce · communicate · relay · report · convey · disclose · impart · enlighten
Recognize as distinct
- differentiateIdentify differences between things
- recognizePerceive as known
- identifyEstablish who or what
- detectNotice or discover
perceive · discern · determine · ascertain · know · spot · notice · make out
Reveal hidden information
- confessAcknowledge wrongdoing openly
- divulgeReveal private information
- exposeMake known publicly
- admitConfess or grant entry
betray · leak · spill · unveil · unmask · give away · let slip · blow the whistle
State officially
- stateCondition or mode
- affirmDeclare to be true
- proclaimDeclare officially and openly
- professDeclare openly, claim belief
attest · maintain · avow · contend · insist · pronounce · claim · certify
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- tattleReveal another's wrongdoing
slander · buzz · grapevine · dirt · scoop · innuendo · speculation · blabbermouth
Account of events
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- recountNarrate or retally
- relateConnect or recount
- chronicleOrdered historical record
narrative · anecdote · describe · depict · recite · detail · account · yarn
notify
Formally communicate information
alert · announce · communicate · relay · report · convey · disclose · impart · enlighten · advise
distinguish
Recognize as distinct
- differentiateIdentify differences between things
- recognizePerceive as known
- identifyEstablish who or what
detect · perceive · discern · determine · ascertain · know · spot · notice · make out · pick out
disclose
Reveal hidden information
admit · betray · leak · spill · unveil · unmask · give away · let slip · blow the whistle · tattle
declare
State officially
profess · attest · maintain · avow · contend · insist · pronounce · claim · certify · allege
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
tattle · slander · buzz · grapevine · dirt · scoop · innuendo · speculation · blabbermouth · loose lips
story
Account of events
chronicle · narrative · anecdote · describe · depict · recite · detail · account · yarn · saga
secret
Concealed information
- trustConfidence in another
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- heart-to-heartSincere personal discussion
confidant · unburden · intimacy · private · discreet · personal · sensitive · opening up · candid · sincere
order
Methodical arrangement or request
- instructConvey knowledge or orders
- directUndeviating or to guide
- demandForceful request or requirement
bid · command · require · charge · dictate · mandate · decree · compel · insist · prescribe
- communicateexpress, convey, communicate, share, impart
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
- communication verbssay, speak, talk, ask, answer
- expressionexpress, convey, communicate, verbal, nonverbal
- revealreveal, disclose, expose, unmask, unveil
- tell the truthCommunicate facts honestly
- tell me morePrompt for details
- tell the differencePerceive distinctions between things
- tell apartRecognize differences between
- show and tellStudent object presentation
- fortune tellingPredicting someone's future
telling, teller, tells, retell, foretell, telltale, retelling, retells, tellers