Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun tell

1 sense of tell

Sense 1
Tell, William Tell -- (a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap))
       INSTANCE OF=> archer, bowman -- (a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb tell

8 senses of tell

Sense 1
state, say, tell -- (express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name")
       => express, verbalize, verbalise, utter, give tongue to -- (articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; "She expressed her anger"; "He uttered a curse")

Sense 2
tell -- (let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late")
       => inform -- (impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights")
          Phrasal Verb-> tell off#1

Sense 3
tell, narrate, recount, recite -- (narrate or give a detailed account of; "Tell what happened"; "The father told a story to his child")
       => inform -- (impart knowledge of some fact, state or affairs, or event to; "I informed him of his rights")

Sense 4
order, tell, enjoin, say -- (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed")
       => request -- (ask (a person) to do something; "She asked him to be here at noon"; "I requested that she type the entire manuscript")

Sense 5
tell -- (discern or comprehend; "He could tell that she was unhappy")
       => guess, infer -- (guess correctly; solve by guessing; "He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize")

Sense 6
assure, tell -- (inform positively and with certainty and confidence; "I tell you that man is a crook!")
       => affirm, verify, assert, avow, aver, swan, swear -- (to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true; "Before God I swear I am innocent")

Sense 7
tell, evidence -- (give evidence; "he was telling on all his former colleague")
       => inform -- (act as an informer; "She had informed on her own parents for years")
          Phrasal Verb-> tell apart#1

Sense 8
distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart -- (mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple")
       => identify, place -- (recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something; "She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster")