# tell

/ˈtɛɫ/ (US) · /tˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tell
Updated: 2026-06-16

## Senses

### 1. to give information

verb · CEFR A1

to give information to someone by speaking or writing.

For teachers: to communicate information, facts, or news to someone. Often used in a ditransitive structure with an indirect object.

- Can you tell me what time the train leaves?
- The witness was asked to tell the court exactly what he had seen on the night of the incident.

### 2. to give an order

verb · CEFR A2

to order or instruct someone to do something.

For teachers: to instruct or command someone to perform an action. Usually followed by an object and a to-infinitive.

- The teacher told the students to sit down and be quiet.
- The doctor told her to avoid heavy lifting until the injury had fully healed.

### 3. to notice a difference

verb · CEFR B1

to be able to see or know the difference between two things.

For teachers: to distinguish or discern between different things or people. Often used with 'can' or 'could'.

- The twins look so similar that I can never tell them apart.
- It was difficult to tell whether the painting was an original or a very high-quality reproduction.

### 4. to reveal a secret

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to tell someone a secret that you were supposed to keep.

For teachers: to disclose confidential information or report someone's misconduct. Often used intransitively in informal contexts.

- I promised not to tell, but I think he needs to know the truth.
- The child threatened to tell on his sister after she broke their mother's favorite vase.

### 5. a revealing sign

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a small action or sign that shows what someone is really thinking or feeling.

For teachers: an unconscious action or behavior that reveals a person's true feelings or intentions, especially when they are trying to deceive.

- His nervous tapping on the table was a clear tell that he was lying.
- Professional poker players spend years learning to hide any physical tell that might reveal the strength of their hand.

### 6. archaeological mound

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a hill made of the remains of ancient buildings and towns.

For teachers: an artificial mound formed by the accumulated remains of ancient settlements, common in Middle Eastern archaeology.

- The archaeologists began digging at the base of the ancient tell.
- Excavations at the tell revealed several distinct layers of habitation dating back to the Bronze Age.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.