American English
/tʰɛl/
One syllable.
Give information to someone by speaking or writing.
Practice out loudGive information to someone by speaking or writing.
Please tell me your name.
He told us about the meeting.
In this meaning, tell usually has a person after it: tell me, not tell to me. Use say for the words themselves: She said, “Hi.”
tell someone the news
tell + someone + something
tell + someone + about + something
Give someone an instruction or strong advice about what to do.
The doctor told him to rest.
My boss told me not to open the file.
tell + someone + to + verb
tell + someone + not to + verb
Share a story, joke, or personal experience by speaking.
She told a funny story at dinner.
Grandpa told us a joke.
tell a story · tell a joke
tell + someone + a story
tell + a joke
Recognize the difference between things or understand something from what you see or hear.
I can’t tell the difference between these two words.
Can you tell if this milk is still good?
tell the difference
tell + the difference + between + A + and + B
tell + if/whether + clause
say what is true
Please tell the truth.
recognize the difference between two people or things
I can never tell these brothers apart.
inform a person in authority that someone did something wrong, usually to get that person in trouble
Don’t tell on me to the teacher.
The past and past participle are told. The -ing form is telling, with double l.