to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.)

to tell the story of Lincoln's childhood.

to make known by speech or writing (a fact, news, information, etc.); communicate.

to announce or proclaim.

to utter (the truth, a lie, etc.).

to express in words (thoughts, feelings, etc.).

to reveal or divulge (something secret or private).

to say plainly or positively

I cannot tell just what was done.

to discern or recognize (a distant person or thing) so as to be able to identify or describe

Can you tell who that is over there?

to distinguish; discriminate; ascertain

You could hardly tell the difference between them.

to inform (a person) of something

He told me his name.

to assure emphatically

I won't, I tell you!

to bid, order, or command

Tell him to stop.

to mention one after another, as in enumerating; count or set one by one or in exact amount

to tell the cattle in a herd; All told there were 17 if we are correct.

to give an account or report

Tell me about your trip.

to give evidence or be an indication

The ruined temples told of an ancient culture, long since passed from existence.

to disclose something secret or private; inform; tattle

She knows who did it, but she won't tell.

to say positively; determine; predict

Who can tell?

to have force or effect; operate effectively

a contest in which every stroke tells.

to produce a marked or severe effect

The strain was telling on his health.

British Dialect . to talk or chat. ?

tell off,

to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.

Informal . to rebuke severely; scold

It was about time that someone told him off.

tell on, to tattle on (someone). ?

tell it like it is, Informal . to tell the complete

unadulterated truth; be forthright

He may be crude but he tells it like it is.

verb

listen , misunderstand , estimate , figure , guess , forbear , reserve , suppress , withhold

verb

acquaint , advise , announce , apprise , authorize , bid , break the news , call upon , clue in , command , confess , declare , direct , disclose , divulge , enjoin , explain , express , fill in * , give facts , give out , impart , inform , instruct , keep posted , lay open * , leak , leave word , let in on , let know , let slip , level , make known , mention , notify , open up , order , proclaim , put before , recite , reel off , report , represent , require , reveal , say , speak , spit it out , state , summon , utternotes:say , and tell are near synonyms , but say is usually followed by a statement or words actually uttered , chronicle , depict , give an account of , portray , recount , rehearse , relate , set forth , statenotes:say , ascertain , be sure , clinch , comprehend , deduce , determine , differentiate , discover , discriminate , distinguish , divine , find out , identify , know , know for certain , learn , make out , perceive , recognize , seenotes:say , count , have effect , have force , make presence felt , make presence known , militate , register , take effect , take its toll , weighnotes:say , compute , count one by one , enumerate , number , numerate , reckon , tale , tallynotes:say , narrate , articulate , communicate , convey , talk , utter , vent , verbalize , vocalize , voice , break , carry , get across , pass , transmit , blab , expose , give away , let out , uncover , unveil , educate , enlighten , charge , discern , separate , tally , annunciate , asseverate , assure , betray , bruit , calculate , chat , confide , decide , deem , describe , dictate , enunciate , peach , post , publish , regale , repeat , request , tattle , unbosom , warn

phrasal verb

bawl out , berate , rate