Background for telling

telling

/ˈtɛlɪŋ/

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

(archaic outside of idioms) To count, reckon, or enumerate.

Examples :

"All told, there were over a dozen. Can you tell time on a clock? He had untold wealth."

number math language

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

Examples :

"I want to tell a story; I want to tell you a story."

language communication writing word

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

To convey by speech; to say.

Examples :

"Finally, someone told him the truth. He seems to like to tell lies."

communication language word

Illustration telling - Image 1

Illustration telling - Image 2

verb

To instruct or inform.

Examples :

"Please tell me how to do it."

communication language

Illustration telling - Image 1

Illustration telling - Image 2

verb

To order; to direct, to say to someone.

Examples :

"Tell him to go away."

communication language

Illustration telling - Image 1

Illustration telling - Image 2

verb

To discern, notice, identify or distinguish.

Examples :

"The detective was able to tell the difference between the two fingerprints. "

mind sensation human

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

Examples :

"Time will tell what became of him."

communication language word

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

To be revealed.

Examples :

"The truth about the missing homework was finally telling. "

communication language sign

Illustration telling - Image 1

Illustration telling - Image 2

verb

To have an effect, especially a noticeable one; to be apparent, to be demonstrated.

Examples :

"Sir Gerald was moving slower; his wounds were beginning to tell."

outcome appearance condition

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

To use (beads or similar objects) as an aid to prayer.

Examples :

"My grandmother was telling her rosary beads while she prayed. "

religion ritual

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

To inform someone in authority about a wrongdoing.

Examples :

"The student told the teacher about the classmate's cheating on the test. "

communication law police action society moral

Illustration telling - Image 1

verb

(authorship) To reveal information in prose through outright expository statement -- contrasted with show

Examples :

"The teacher told the students the rules for the essay, rather than showing them through an example. "

literature writing language communication story

Illustration telling - Image 1

Illustration telling - Image 2

adjective

Having force, or having a marked effect; weighty, effective.

Examples :

"a telling blow"

attitude character quality statement

Illustration telling - Image 1

Illustration telling - Image 2

adjective

Revealing information; bearing significance.

Examples :

"a telling smile"

communication sign info

Illustration telling - Image 1

adjective

Serving to convince.

Examples :

"telling evidence"

communication language attitude mind

Illustration telling - Image 1

noun

The act of narration.

Examples :

"The teacher's telling of the story was captivating. "

story communication language writing literature

Illustration telling - Image 1

noun

The disclosure of information.

Examples :

"The telling of the secret project details was a surprise to the team. "

communication language statement info

Illustration telling - Image 1

noun

Counting, numbering.

Examples :

"The teacher asked for a telling of the students in the class. "

Illustration telling - Image 1

noun

(usually in the negative) Ability to determine.

Examples :

"Lack of telling prevented him from accurately judging the best course of action. "

ability mind character