told
v.v. to give information to someone by speaking or writing. You use this when you want to share a fact, a story, or an instruction.
v. to communicate information, facts, or news to someone in spoken or written form. The past tense and past participle form of 'tell'.
She told me the truth about the meeting.
The pilot told the passengers to remain seated while the aircraft was taxiing to the gate.
Having been told of the impending weather front, the captain decided to reroute the flight to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone on board.
From Middle English tolde, talde (first and third person singular preterite), from Old English tealde (first and third person singular preterite), from Proto-Germanic talid-, preterite stem of Proto-Germanic taljaną (“to count; tell”), equivalent to tell + -ed.
The verb is transitive and usually requires an indirect object (the person being informed) before the direct object or clause.
He told to me a storyHe told me a storyUnlike 'say', the verb 'tell' is followed directly by the person being addressed without the preposition 'to'.